Plan for Purple People Bridge hotel likely dead

There’s nowhere to park on a pedestrian bridge.

That single detail will likely keep any hotel or shop from opening on the Purple People Bridge, the bridge’s owners told The Enquirer.

The development agreement to build a $100 million railroad-themed hotel and restaurant complex on the bridge – an agreement between the bridge’s owner, the Newport Southbank Bridge Co., and developer, DW Real Estate Holdings – lapsed in June, said Wally Pagan, president of the Newport Southbank Bridge Co.

Pagan wouldn’t declare the project dead, but said it’s not likely to be resurrected. Instead the bridge company is looking to other sources of income to keep the bridge in good shape.

“We’re not as encouraged as we once were,” Pagan said. “To really do the project, one of the first components you need is parking. There’s no dedicated parking for the bridge. You can’t make people walk a mile to the hotel.”

Under the plan, DW Real Estate would have built a 90-room hotel and restaurant in the middle of the 2,600-foot long bridge.

Bridges in Italy and England with shops built into them inspired the bridge hotel plan. The project and development agreement were announced in 2010.

The state spent $650,000 on an engineering study in March 2014 that confirmed the bridge could hold development.

Jack Moreland, president of economic development agency Southbank Partners, told business leaders at a recent gathering of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce that the state money wasn’t spent in vain.

“Whatever we want to do, we know we can do it and feel safe the bridge can handle it,” Moreland said.

To maintain the bridge, the owners want more sponsorships.

St. Elizabeth Hospital pays the bridge company an undisclosed amount to put an activity course on the bridge. The decals placed at intervals on the bridge encourage heart healthy activities, such as hopscotch, a long jump and a foot maze.

St. Elizabeth also put in a “Hydration Station” vending machine on the bridge that rewards people for posting healthy messages on Instagram with a free bottled water.

“We’re trying to think of non-traditional ways to get a good healthy message out there,” said Guy Karrick, spokesman for St. Elizabeth.

The Purple People Bridge management hopes to get more long-term sponsorships such as the one with St. E, Pagan said.

Formerly the L&N Bridge, the 143-year-old span was closed to vehicular traffic in 2002. The bridge company has estimated 300,000 to 400,000 people cross the bridge every year. The bridge brings in about $90,000 a year hosting charity walks/runs, weddings and corporate events.

The bridge hasn’t been painted in 15 years. A new paint job would cost $1 million. While a hotel and retail shops don’t seem likely, Pagan hopes partnerships akin to the one with St. Elizabeth can get the owners closer to that goal.

“We’re looking to improve and do better,” Pagan said.