After decades of discussion and speculation, the redevelopment of downtown Phenix City is seeing a flurry of real activity.

On Monday, the old Golden Rule Club at 1500 Third Ave. was torn down. In the next month or so, two more buildings in that area will be demolished and cleared away.

On Tuesday, Phenix City Council voted to notify the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of its intention to buy the "triangle" area of Riverview Courts Apartments to make room, in part, for Troy University's proposed downtown campus.

This is part of an ambitious and aggressive $273.5 million plan to rebuild and revitalize the Phenix City riverfront.

"It's exciting," said J.W. Brannen, chairman of Phenix City's Downtown Redevelopment Authority. "It's been talked about for 20 years, but now it's taking shape."

The council's vote was not unanimous. Councilor John Storey disagreed with sending HUD the letter of intent because he was not clear about how the city will finance its part of the project.

He had a point. The land will cost the city about $720,000, and clearing it will cost another $300,000, so we're talking about a million bucks and change.

But city Finance Director Steve Smith explained that the city has close to half of that on hand. And in addition to that, Mayor Jeff Hardin said it will be possible to use lodging tax proceeds to make up the difference.

We're glad the council went ahead with the proposal. Too often in the past, renovation and redevelopment plans have stalled and then just withered on the vine.

This project is absolutely vital to Phenix City and the Bi-Cities area as a whole. It's especially exciting with Troy University's proposed presence. When you see the vitality that Columbus State University has brought to downtown Columbus, you can imagine what a difference Troy's presence could make across the river.

Both sides of the river are experiencing a renaissance. If you walk around downtown Columbus and think about what it was like just 15 years ago, it's hard to believe how vibrant and alive it is now.

Phenix City is in the earliest stage of its renovation, and we're excited at its prospects.

We're understand and appreciate Councilor Storey voicing his concerns about financing. That's what good stewards of public funds and interest do. But we're just as glad that the city's management had an adequate answer for his concerns and that the project is moving forward.