The Downtown Redevelopment Authority opened bids on Thursday and chose a contractor to demolish three buildings along the 3rd Avenue block of Phenix City.

The Downtown Redevelopment Authority opened bids on Thursday and chose a contractor to demolish three buildings along the 3rd Avenue block of Phenix City.  Slotted for demolition at the "Lingo Appliance" two-story building, the abandoned Salvation Army site and the "old Golden Rule" restaurant structure.  The cost is $40,900 for the job.

“I think it is very reasonable,” said DRA Chairman J.W. Brannen.

Before B&S Excavation begins to level the property on Nov. 14, DRA member Sammy Howard wants to arrange a meeting for riverfront residents to explain the process. "My concern is if we start tearing buildings down before that meeting, it would scare people,” said Howard.

Brannen suggested personal notifications to be placed in mailboxes about this stage of development in the area and announcing the meeting should it be arranged.  This week, Howard and the Stewart Group traveled to Troy to speak with Troy State Chancellor Jack Hawkins about the college’s proposal to build in the "triangle area" of the Phenix City Housing Authority’s Riverview Apartments property.  The apartments and buildings in the section are already vacated. The Stewart Group is working on a proposal and strategic plan for demolition of Authority structures.  DRA and the East Alabama Riverfront Development committee are working with the Authority to make way for Troy State and Chattahoochee Valley Community College instructional sites.  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development must approve all plans for the area.