Fort Mitchell residents will be relieved to learn that the portion of Royal Drive closed for construction at the former Drawbridge Inn property is set to open in the coming months.
Work on the mixed-use development at the former site is moving along after the long-vacant building went up for sale in 2012.
The 26‑acre site, now known as the Fort Mitchell Gateway, will feature a blend of commercial, residential, hospitality and healthcare uses designed to revitalize one of the region’s most visible interstate corridors.
Infrastructure Progress and Roadway Updates
A section of Royal Drive closed on Dec. 13, 2024, for construction. While the roadway structure is complete, final utility work remains underway. Royal Drive has been removed, relocated and reconstructed.
Royal Drive is expected to open within the next one to two months, easing traffic and enabling the next phase of development.
Sewer and road improvements are now complete and the project is on schedule, but a few things caused delays, according to City Administrative Officer Edwin King.
“There have been a few setbacks,” King said. “They ran into some rock that they didn’t expect.”
Property Overview
2477 Royal Drive in Fort Mitchell sits in a high‑visibility corridor along I‑71/75, Buttermilk Pike, Royal Drive, and Grace Avenue, with an average of 19,843 vehicles passing daily. The commercially zoned site is directly in front of The Ormsby, a new 203‑unit luxury senior living community, and offers immediate access to both I‑71 and I‑75. Final uses will be shaped in part by the site’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) structure, which reinvests future tax revenue to fund upfront infrastructure improvements.
The Ormsby Senior Living Community
St. Elizabeth Healthcare and Dallas-based Greenbrier Development are partnering on The Ormsby, a seven‑story luxury senior living community named for Maj. Gen. Ormsby MacKnight Mitchel. The community will include an age-restricted 62+ residential complex with 203 units and a 48-bed health center.
Developer and Investment
The project is being led by Brandicorp LLC, a Bellevue‑based real estate developer, with a total planned investment exceeding $200 million. Vertical construction is expected to begin this fall, and development will take place on both sides of Royal Drive once the remaining utility work is completed.
Traffic and Transportation Planning
The state required a full traffic impact study due to the site’s proximity to I‑71/75. To address congestion on Buttermilk Pike, the state plans to implement a double‑diamond interchange redesign.
City Administrative Officer Edwin King expressed optimism about the project’s momentum, noting that it is expected to revitalize the surrounding corridor and serve as a major new gateway into Fort Mitchell.
“I think it is going to be a successful project. I think it is going to revitalize in that area. So I am really excited to see it come to fruition and move forward,” Edwin King said.
The next meeting is May 18 (budget meeting) at 5:30 pm at the Fort Mitchell government office on Dixie Highway.