Hotel project wins approval

BRADENTON — The long-awaited redevelopment of the Manatee River Hotel in downtown Bradenton, widely known as the Pink Palace, received a key approval from the city's Architectural Review Board.

Several major changes to the building are in the works, including one that will put an end to its famous nickname: The building's pink exterior will be replaced by beige and white, according to plans submitted by the developer, Syracuse, N.Y.-based Widewaters Group. The review board approved that change, and several other changes designed to make the building commercially viable while maintaining the historic look.

The building, on 10th Street West, has been vacant since 2005. Bradenton city officials, through the Downtown Development Authority, reached an agreement with Widewaters in October on an incentives package to aid the project. The city will provide Widewaters $1 million in incentives and roughly $1.5 million in tax rebates. Widewaters plans to turn the 86-year-old building into a 115-room Hampton Inn & Suites, a $17 million project. Click here to read more about the project.