BRADENTON — Transformation of the city’s historic “Pink Palace” is almost good to go, all that is pending is a parking agreement between Manatee County and developer Widewaters Bradenton LLC., said David Gustafson, executive director of Bradenton Downtown Development Authority.

“We are not waiting for economic stimulus to come back on its own,” said Gustafson. “We are creating stimulus.”

He said about 35 parking spots are still needed for the new Hampton Inn & Suites that will replace the Manatee River Hotel at 309 10th St. W., popularly known as the Pink Palace.

The new hotel will require 120 parking spaces, and about 85 have already been secured, Gustafson said. The pending spaces may be allocated at the southwest corner of 10th Street West and Fourth Avenue West.

Widewaters is expected to go before the county commission in about a month seeking the approval of the spaces.

Additional parking will be available in front of the hotel, and the city will allow Widewaters to offer parking around the Manatee Chamber of Commerce building, Gustafson said.

Renovations and construction of the hotel are expected to start this summer and to be completed around the same time next year.