50 attend first workshop to see plans

Some air concerns about effects on traffic and fishing

Posted on Friday, May 28, 2004

BY ERIN SIMPSON
Staff Writer

Only about 50 people showed interest in learning about Phenix City's riverfront development plans at a public hearing Thursday night.

The workshop is one of three meetings planned to showcase the ideas of the private East Alabama Riverfront Development and its consultant, The Boulevard Group, which have worked with local, city and county officials and residents to design a development plan for the city's riverfront. "Tonight is an important step," Boulevard President Jim Brooks said. "We are engaged and focused, and not just in creating a lot of pretty pictures. Frankly, you've had a lot of plans. We've looked at all those, and they're still sitting on the shelf."

Boulevard will also create a financing plan and implementation schedule so the development plan is assured of moving along to create a "class A riverfront" in Phenix City, said Doug Faust, vice president of Boulevard.

The proposed plan includes four phases:

• Dillingham Bridge area -- a six story, 350-unit hotel with conference facilities; ground floor retail shops with offices above; MeadWestvaco offices expansion.
  
• Riverside housing and Broad Street -- three- to four-story housing above offices or ground floor retail; a new road, Riverside Lane, between the riverwalk and Broad Street; Broad Street streetscape improvements; white water takeout point at Holland Creek.
  
• Phenix Plaza area -- entry gateway improvements; increased retail; courthouse expansion; classrooms and auditorium for Chattahoochee Valley Community College and Troy University; sculpture garden.
  
• Riverview Apartments -- revitalized apartment complex with mixed-income housing; elderly housing; improved recreation facility. Local residents heard the presentation and gave suggestions and asked questions.