The Selma City Council appointed four spots on the Downtown Redevelopment Authority Tuesday night. Warren Young, Johnny Moss III, Juanda Maxwell and Martha Lockett were appointed to the DRA, which is tasked with finding ways to improve downtown Selma.

“This appointment is an opportunity to serve, and for so many years others have served. Selma has benefited from some great community leaders who have served, and in homage to them, it’s our turn to carry that mantle,” Young said. “I want to carry that mantle as far as we can and do what’s in the best interest for Selma.”

Young, who grew up in Selma, recalled childhood memories of going downtown with his parents to shop, and he hopes the DRA can help downtown thrive.

“I can remember going with my mother to Leon’s to purchase clothes for Sunday church service. I can remember going downtown to have some food from the Downtowner,” he said.

“The downtown part of Selma is the heart of the town. That’s where some of the greatest events in history have taken place, so it’s not just significant to citizens of Selma, but it’s significant to the world.”

Young said he is excited about the appointment and the future of downtown Selma.

“If we can redevelop and build our downtown back up, that could do wonders for our revenue base,” Young said. “This authority will try to do what it can to offer incentives for businesses to come and bring their businesses downtown as well as help the current owners that are down there.”

Maxwell, who has a love for Selma’s many historic homes and buildings, is also excited about downtown’s future.

“It’s a love of mine,” Maxwell said. “I really want to work for Selma, and I really want to see Selma’s downtown area redeveloped because if it is developed, it could really spark some more economic development and attract more businesses and jobs. If our community is going to thrive, it needs to have good paying jobs, so that’s a way to get the ball started.”

She said she is eager to get to work.

“I am ready to hit the ground running, “she said. “I think we need to start coming together to meet to come up with a strategic plan about how we want to go about trying to help the city redevelop the downtown area.”

Moss, who also serves as the Selma City School Board, will take his father’s place on the DRA.

Moss said he wants to be able to go downtown and enjoy it like many other cities he’s visited.

“I want to be able to live here and go down there and enjoy it like you do when you go to Montgomery, Nashville and other areas,” Moss said. “I’ve recently been in Birmingham, and they’re doing a lot to energize downtown development. We’ve got to be able to redevelop it and keep people excited about coming to visit Selma.”

Lockett, who was also appointed, is the executive director for ArtsRevive. She has already been a part of redeveloping part of Water Avenue and turning it into a district for the arts.