Former Manatee River Hotel Renovation Plan on Docket at Next DDA Meeting

BRADENTON—The building formerly known as the Manatee River Hotel in downtown Bradenton may have new life if a renovation plan slated to be presented at the next Downtown Development Authority meeting on March 22 gets a green light.

The structure also nicknamed “the Pink Palace” for its distinctive color has been vacant since 2005. Located at 309 W. 10^th Street in downtown Bradenton, the building was originally a hotel before conversion into a 212 unit retirement home.

At a DDA workshop Tuesday in City Hall, the board was informed of the proposed renovation plan where the building’s current owners will apply for incentive money to renovate the former hotel into a viable business once again. Estimates of the incentive grant the owners will be looking for are between $3 and $4 million.

The downtown property has seen its share of financial problems since shutting down more than five years ago. A local development company borrowed $2.625 million in December 2005 to finance the purchase of the historic building. The company reportedly defaulted on the loan in April 2009.