More parking, not new campus entrance, priority at Southeast

An executive dispelled rumors Monday that Southeast Missouri State University plans to use current property or purchase property with the immediate intent of building a new campus entrance.

Parking is more of a priority, said Wayne Smith, executive director of Southeast's foundation. With a swelling student body and a dorm under construction, parking is at a premium, he said.

And with space on the main campus almost completely full, the university is turning to areas along Broadway and Pacific Street, changing the face of the roads.

"We've had conversations for the past two or three years with individual property owners up and down Broadway," Smith said. This spring, the foundation purchased Wille's Bakery at 1215 Broadway; Kerber, Eck and Braeckel LLP's office space at 1221 Broadway; and a house at 293 N. Henderson Ave.

Originally, part of the space was to be renovated for a new autism center, but organizers determined it would be more cost effective to build a new center on the playground of the old Washington School.

Now, part of the purchased space will be used for parking for dorm students. A 300-bed dorm is under construction at the corner of Broadway and Henderson Avenue.

Smith said the purchase "set off rumors and speculation," but that "nothing else is going on at this time."

The foundation or university already owns property on Pacific Street, another area being considered for parking. Property includes the NASA Educator Resource Center, 222 N. Pacific St., an old blue house across the street, and an old beauty school and salon near the intersection of Broadway and Pacific Street at 904 Broadway. Smith said some of the buildings could be torn down to make way for parking.

There has been speculation the university has an interest in surrounding buildings, but Smith said there are no definite plans.

William Parrish, who owns the former House of Brides building at 238 N. Pacific St., said he was approached by a foundation member about potentially selling. He said other entities have also expressed an interest in the building but he hasn't decided the building's future.

The student body has grown 12.4 percent during the past five years, leading the university to eye areas for expansion. With the purchases along Broadway and the construction of the River Campus near downtown, the current push appears to be south.

The university altered a portion of Broadway when it purchased the former First Baptist Church property in 2003. The land now houses the alumni center, a recreation center and an innovation center.

As far as a new university entrance, Smith said he has heard the rumors, but he repeated "there's no definite plans."

"A lot of people dream about what the front of the university may look like. The bottom line ... is we couldn't afford to do some of the things the rumor mill suggests," Smith said.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

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