When The Phenixian rises from the banks of the Chattahoochee River in late 2008 or early 2009, there will be a junior version of the project getting its start just across 14th Street.

Mark Sheldon, the head of construction operations for Ronnie Gilley Properties LLC of Enterprise, Ala., the developers of the $25 million condominium/retail complex, said Tuesday during a noon press conference the project to construct the 10-story, 65-unit building is on schedule. The start of construction is expected to be around June 1 with the construction of the project taking 16 to 18 months.

Sheldon said the buzz about the project at the RGP headquarters in south Alabama is high and growing. "We're really excited to be a part of Phenix City and everything that is going on here," he said.

Sheldon and architect Scott Holmes of Hecht Burdeshaw Architects Inc. of Columbus revealed some additional details of Gilley's plans for the Davis property, the recently-cleared lot on the southeast corner of the intersection of 14th Street and Third Avenue.

RGP plans to construct a three-story building with condominiums and retail space on the site, which may include the country music-themed restaurant planned for the main Phenixian complex. Holmes said parking is the main complication for the Davis property portion of the project, with space being limited on the lot. Construction on the second building will not begin until The Phenixian construction is complete.

Sheldon said the decision on which side of 14th Street to build the restaurant depends on how the retail space in The Phenixian sells. It will be owned by one of a number of country music stars associated with Gilley Properties, including George Jones, Tracy Lawrence, Alan Jackson and Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn.

They have been part of RGP developments in Enterprise and Panama City Beach, Fla., including Jones' Possum Holler, a restaurant being developed in Enterprise, and Jackson's La Borgata, a luxury residential development with neighborhood retail in Panama City.

Sheldon said Jackson, a Newnan, Ga., native who struck gold with his Country Music Award-winning single "Chattahoochee" in 1993, is especially excited about the development in Columbus.

One of the retailers occupying space in The Phenixian will be "a national coffee company," Sheldon said. He would not further identify the company.

J.W. Brannen, chair of the Downtown Redevelopment Authority, said the inquiries about the project are growing in number each week. "People are interested because of the lower taxes here than in any of the surrounding states," he said.

Phenix City Mayor Jeff Hardin said the effort to bring the project to the Phenix City riverfront has been a great group effort, acknowledging the role of the Downtown Redevelopment Authority and the City Council in making the first big step in the riverfront/downtown redevelopment effort happen. Hardin was joined by Councilman Ray Bush and City Manager Bubba Roberts at the press conference.

"Nobody thought that something like this would ever be built in Phenix City, Ala.," Bush said. "This council has come a long way, with the leadership of our mayor. Phenix City is on the move and the perception of what is happening over here is changing."

Sheldon said The Phenixian is the first of three phases of RGP development planned for Phenix City. The other two phases would be the development of the Davis Property and planned construction of a residential golf course development at the Phenix Industrial Park of U.S. 431 South. Sheldon said the company is still testing the soil at the south Phenix City site. "We're still doing our due diligence on that project," he said.

Another key aspect of the riverfront development, the completion of the purchase of the sale of the Triangle at Riverview Courts Apartments, is still awaiting approval of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Hardin said.

"We're waiting on HUD. We've continued to make those calls and they've actually called, making sure that all of our information is in order," Hardin said. "All those questions have been answered for them. It's just a matter of getting it in front of the right person and then making that decision. But we feel, based on the information that we're getting the Housing Authority about our application and it being approved, it's just a matter of time."