Major announcement coming for Newport\'s long-vacant Ovation site

'This is a great time to be inNorthern Kentucky.

Everyoneshould be excited."excited."NEW AT 11.A NEARLYONE-BILLION DOLLARANNOUNCEMENT FOR NORTHERNKENTUCKY.AND WITH IT -THOUSANDS OF JOBS!THE OVATION SITE HAS BEENEMPTY FOR 13 YEARS.PHASE ONEOF A NEW DEVELOPMENT WILL BEANNOUNCED LATER THIS WEEK.9 ONYOUR SIDE'S JAKE RYLE SPOKEPEOPLE IN THE AREA ABOUT WHATTHEY'D LIKE TO SEE - AND HOWTHE DEVELOPMENT WILL IMPACTTHE REGION.13 YEARS..YEARS.., "It's like nobody ever doesanything with it."AND 30 ACRESOF RIVERFRONT LAND..SITTING IDLEIDLE.."Everyone always wonders.

Youpass in your car,"PASSED OVERBY A MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER TEAM.BUT A DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITY AWAIAWAITS.One day they'll put somethingthere".B.J.

SANTIAGO..

AND HISWIFE..

MOVED HERE TWO MONTHS AGOAGO.We heard some exciting newsabout the Levee.

We decided tomove down close to the river.Try to experience some cityliving."THE SITE..

REPRESENTS OPOPPORTUNITY.I'd like to see something thathas restaurants.

Retail.Entertainment.

Something thatplays off the Newport culture.Replicate what's over on theother side of the river."CINDYHENNEMANN..

HAS LIVED INNEWPORT ALL HER LIFE.LIFE., "Even a grocery store wouldbe great.

Our grocery store isfar away and I walk.

I'd loveto see a grocery store nearby,"RENDERINGS..

FROM CORPOREXSHOW A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT..WITH NEARLY 1 MILLION SQUAREFEET OF OFFICE SPACE..RETAIL..

RESTAURNTS..

AND MORE.MORE.RYLE/@JAKEWCPOO "The Northern KentuckyChamber of Commerce is sayingthis is a pretty big deal too.Creating a ripple effect notjust for Newport, but for theentire region."region."This is something that my kidswill come back and say hey Iremember when that was built,"BRENT COOPER..

PRESIDENT OFTHE NORTHERN KENTUCKY CHAMBEROF COMMERCE..

SAYS THE NEWLYRENOVATED ROUTE 8..

AND ROUTE9..

WAS THE DRIVING FORCE..FOR A PLAN MORE THAN A DECADEIN THE MAKING.MAKING."Patience does pay off.

Letme say this.

This is exhibit aon why Kentucky and Ohioshould be investing in roadsand bridges."DEVELOPERS BELIEVE THISPROJECT COULD BRING IN NEARLY5-THOUSAND JOBS..

LONG TERM.THE ANNOUNCEMENT..

WILL BETHURSDAY..

WE'LL BE THERE, ANDPROVIDE UPDATES ON WCPO.COM.INNEWPORT, JAKE RYLE, 9 ON YOURSIDE.