BY ERIN SIMPSON
Staff Writer

Phenix City's riverfront development plan has another backer, and this one is from Washington, D.C.

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Anniston, whose 3rd Congressional District includes Phenix City and Russell and Lee counties, listened to the $225 million redevelopment plan for the city's downtown and riverfront and toured Riverview Apartments on Monday.

"It's pretty ambitious and pretty exciting," Rogers said. "It's not unrealistic. These folks really are working as a team."

Doug Faust, vice president of the consulting firm The Boulevard Group, showed the presentation to members of East Alabama Riverfront Development, Phenix City Council and representatives from state and national legislators.

State Sen. Ted Little, D-Auburn, and state Rep. Lesley Vance, D-Phenix City, attended, as did representatives from U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama; U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Alabama; 11th District U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Marietta; and 2nd District U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Columbus.

After the presentation, Rogers asked one question: "When you as a group look at your expectations and needs from the congressional delegation, what would No. 1, 2 and 3 be?" Faust and Sammy Howard, president of the riverfront group, said the first priority would be helping the revitalization of Riverview Apartments. The plans would replace the public housing units with new mixed-income apartments for public housing renters and market-rate apartments.

Next would be economic incentives and infrastructure improvements with federal funds.

"You need to decide as a community here what you want most from Washington," Rogers said. "Everybody saying the same thing."

Rogers said the PowerPoint presentation helped him visualize the city's plans. "This is one of those neat projects where it seems everybody is coming together," he said. "That's a great indicator of success."

The private riverfront development group hired The Boulevard Group to create a master plan for redevelopment of the city's downtown and riverfront areas, with expectations of whitewater rafting on the Chattahoochee River coming soon.

The plans, which cover 135 acres of the city's downtown include:

• Dillingham area: Hotel, conference center and retail developments -- $47.8 million
• Riverfront: Mixed-use residential over commercial developments and infrastructure and streetscape improvements -- $70.4 million
• Phenix Plaza area: Hotel, retail shops, restaurant, courthouse expansion and downtown expansions for Chattahoochee Valley Community College and Troy State University -- $71.3 million
• Riverview area: Revitalized public housing, new youth center, infrastructure and street improvements -- $35.3 million

The final redevelopment plan will be presented and is expected to be approved as the city's master plan at the council meeting today.