The city of Selma planning and development office, without a director, is moving the Riverfront Amphitheater project forward to the next phase. The end date is still scheduled for December, and the city hopes residents can enjoy concerts and other events starting in 2014.

Henry Thompson, city compliance officer for the project said 95 percent of phase one of the three phases is complete as of this week.

“We have now done adaptive reuse of the old train depot — which entails remodeling portions of the two sides of the actual staging area which will eventually become, we would like, offices, restaurants in that area and the dressing rooms will be housed in that area off from the stage,” Thompson said, adding loading docks are in this setup as well for band and performance equipment.

The roof is currently days away from completion — another part of phase one.

“They are doing a scale of the parapet top, but all of the shingles and flashing has been applied over the building,” Thompson said, explaining that is what is holding up phase 2, they are waiting for before they go on to complete the staging area — something Thompson said is the most exciting phase.

“It is going to be one of the most exciting phases because it is the biggest phase,” he said. “It is the biggest portion of the building, its going to be 10 to 15 feet taller than the building is now and it will really develop everything and the whole vision once people can see the stage.”

Phase two is still in the bidding process and is projected to be completed by the fall of 2013, with the overall amphitheater construction wrapping up in December. Phase three will include the grading of the seating area, that will give the amphitheater seating a bowl-like shape.

Thompson said the overall project is moving, “at a steady pace,” and said when it is completed he thinks, “it’s going to be something that is exciting for the community and it’s going to be a venture that will expand the use of the downtown riverfront.”