BY GREGORY A. HALL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT WRIGHT -- Robke Chevrolet, almost as much of a fixture on Madison Avenue in Covington as the neighboring cathedral, started moving dirt Friday at a new location near Interstate 275 in Fort Wright.
Fort Wright Mayor Paul Hiltz said the dealership coming to his city is a coup. He said he remembers traveling from his boyhood home in Erlanger to Robke's Covington location where his parents would buy Chevys.
"We'd be pleased to have Robke in our city because they're so well known," Mr. Hiltz said.
According to Mr. Hiltz, the only question about the move is when, not if.
Robke owner Bud Robke said Friday that it was too early to discuss the move, but confirmed work started at the Fort Wright site. He was going there to have his picture taken with his daughter.
Robke's moved to the existing building at 1324 Madison Avenue in 1921. The site is a short distance from the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption at 12th Street and Madison.
Robke's Ford dealership in Covington's Latonia neighborhood will remain there, Mr. Hiltz said.
The Fort Wright location is on the east side of Madison Pike near Dudley Construction and will require an access bridge over Banklick Creek.
The city has agreed to own and take care of the bridge, but neighboring property owners, including Robke and Dudley, will pay into a special fund, city officials said.
As each parcel of land in the area is developed, each owner will be assessed $500 per year, per acre for the first five years and the money will go to the bridge fund, Mr. Hiltz said. The city hopes to eventually have $600,000 by placing the money in an interest-bearing account.
The city was reluctant to accept ownership of the bridge, Mr. Hiltz said, because of the eventual replacement cost.
"We didn't want to saddle the city with a big potential liability (or reconstructing the bridge) even though it's 50 years away," Mr. Hiltz said.
