BY JERRY F. RUTLEDGE
Staff Writer

The Phenix City Housing Authority has progressed toward a $50 million-$100 million project that would change the concept of public housing in the city.

The authority has selected developer Mike Bowden as its partner in a plan to transform the Riverview Courts Apartments from its "projects" look into a multi-use, residential/commercial development on the river.

The plan to redevelop Riverview calls for it to be demolished and replaced with a mixed-income community, where about 40 percent of the renters will be market-rate and 60 percent will be a mix of public housing and tax credit residents. The complex would include offices, apartments and condominiums.

"It might have a few rental components to it, but most of it is going to be for sale," said Bowden representative Dewayne Richardson. "It's going to be a government condo type of thing. It's going to have some Class A office space overlooking the river. We're going to combine a new market, tax-credit component to this concept."

The remaining rental space will be updated -- rather than rehabilitated -- into housing comparable to many of the apartment/condo properties for rent in the area.

"Real nice rental housing that's going to be more like those built for regular market customers," Richardson said. "Swimming pools. Sports courts. The high amenity packages. We're going to be doing combinations of all of that."

He estimated the cost for complete redevelopment will be from $50 million to $100 million.

The Bowden plans fit the concept that Hare, board Chairman Kellon Sheppard and consultant the Stewart Group presented to Phenix City Council last December. Developing properties in other parts of Phenix City to replace the public housing in Riverview Courts is another item mentioned during the earlier presentation.

"One of the facts they brought in with their presentation is replacement housing, because we are going to have to have it." Hare said. "They had some really good ideas about the replacement housing and the ways we can accomplish this."

The redevelopment is apart from the "The Triangle," the section of land and buildings located in the 700 and 800 blocks of the apartment complex. Phenix City is negotiating with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to purchase the area, which is expected to be the site for Troy University Phenix City to relocate its business school.

Sheppard said the Stewart Group recommended Bowden as its co-partner in the redevelopment.

"They evaluated all the different groups that made a presentation to the board and they came back with the conclusion that we select Bowden," Sheppard said.