ALEXANDRIA, LA (AP) — The city of Alexandria is launching an initiative to make the downtown area along the Red River more user-friendly and more attractive to private investment.
The Riverfront Improvement Venture and Essential Recreation Act is part of the city's Downtown Alexandria Now! program. The Town Talk Richard Sharkey reports the new initiative calls for using about $8 million in city funds over the next several years to generate $32 million worth of investment from other sources, primarily the private sector.
City officials envision the plan leading to riverside housing, more businesses such as restaurants and retail stores, and more recreational opportunities in the levee area. The target area runs from the riverside park near Rapides Regional Medical Center to a small park south of the Purple Heart Memorial Bridge.
