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The Irony Of It All
Brad Hollerbach
Brad Hollerbach is the Director of Information Technology for the Southeast Missourian. His opinions are his own and do not reflect those of the newspaper or its editorial board. He writes this blog primarily for his own amusement and to parody the absurdities of the world we live in. He lives with his wife and two cats that don't really care for one another in Cape.
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Howard's Moving After 63 Years.
Is North Pacific In Line For A Water Feature?

Posted Thursday, December 11, 2008, at 2:03 PM

Howard's Sporting Goods is moving from its building at the corner of Broadway and Pacific after 63 years.

I haven't heard why Howard's is moving. Perhaps their rent was jacked up and it made it financially necessary for them to move. That certainly happens, maybe more so in a down economy.

Or possibly the building has sold or is going to be sold and the new landlord doesn't want tenants.

If that were the case, it's not hard to imagine that the University or its Foundation would be interested in that property. After all, the University already owns a sizable amount of the wedge of land formed by Pacific, Broadway and Bellevue.

And you have to admit that the old Howard's building would be just a fantastic location for a fountain.

Or a parking lot.

Or possibly even a parking lot with some kind of water feature on the side.

If that were to occur, it would certainly be an improvement to the 200 and 300 block of North Pacific. I drove through there the other day and it's tough to find a word to describe this stretch of Pacific between Broadway and North, but I will try.

How about, decrepit.

I wrote the last two paragraphs a couple weeks ago and decided that to be fair, I should drive down Pacific again to see if my initial reaction was accurate. Based on that second visit, I am modifying my initial assessment.

Those two blocks are not decrepit, they're really decrepit.

If you randomly picked any of those properties and presented it to the hosts of the HGTV show "Curb Appeal," I bet they would run off shrieking in laughter, terror or both.

It's pretty bad.

And why are these two blocks, so decrepit? In my opinion, it's because they're mostly rental. I did some research and out of 18 properties, 15 of the property tax bills went to some other address. That is usually a sure sign that the property is NOT owner occupied and is a rental.

I feel sorry for the owners of the 3 presumed owner occupied properties. The best thing they can hope for when they sell their house is that either the University will buy it and turn it into parking, or one of the local slum lords will snatch it up and rent it out to its maximum capacity.

There's not much of an incentive to invest in your home when the threat of a kegger breaking out could happen at anytime on your block. It's especially disheartening if you're never invited.

Perhaps the University or its Foundation should consider buying up the entire 200 and 300 block of North Pacific and tearing down all those properties. It would definitely be an aesthetic improvement to one of the main arteries into campus.

And, it would be a fantastic location for a waterfall.

Or possibly even a log flume.

Now that would add some curb appeal.

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  • You will soon find out that SEMO has recently purchased properties from 904 Broadway to 826 Broadway. This includes E-Clips (Former Beauty School), Howard's Sports Shop, Gulf Station, and The Tuxedo Rental Store. A new SEMO entrance will be going in at Broadway & Pacific Street. With hopes to buy The Esquire and Grace Cafe buildings. And a long term plan that shows them owning all the way to Sprigg Street.

    -- Posted by timexx on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 5:27 AM

  • Wonder if the "budget cuts" will slow this progress? The university will be down to 15 faculty and staff, but will have 25 large fountains at every entrance to the campus. I'm just sayin'. :)

    -- Posted by indian_mom on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 7:31 AM

  • John in Jackson,

    Yes, Brad does a good job of reporting some news around here. I'll have all the details about where they're moving and any other info in my Monday morning column. Enjoy!

    -- Posted by Brian_Blackwell on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 8:31 AM

  • Technically, John I haven't "scooped" anyone. I was just hypothesizing that IF the Howard's building sold, who would be a likeliest purchaser. SEMO looks like a good candidate to me, but they're mum on the subject. That's not surprising.

    I'm not a reporter, by the way. Just a citizen observer with things to say and a forum to say them.

    Thanks for reading.

    -- Posted by Brad_Hollerbach on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 9:44 AM

  • Wish I had the last 5 minutes of my life back wasted reading this worthless drivel.

    -- Posted by JarHead1 on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 10:11 AM

  • "Worthless Drivel!" Why, that's fantastic! I was actually shooting for "meaningless crap". That raises the bar. I will aim for "fetid tripe" for my next blog.

    Thanks for your 5 minutes.

    -- Posted by Brad_Hollerbach on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 10:50 AM

  • I enjoy reading your posts, but I think this one is, at some points, inconsiderate towards college students who rent local houses and prop up the economy around here.

    Unfortunately, the attitude towards college students in a town like this is rather negative. Citizens band together to enact ordinances limiting the number of unrelated persons that can live in a house, a move clearly discriminatory towards students. They whine and complain like toddlers when students park on their precious streets.

    This attitude ignores the massive positive economic impact that college students have on the area. All of the high-paying academic and service jobs on campus are thanks to the students (and, to a minor degree, the state).

    I'm afraid local residents need to learn to take "the bitter with the sweet" and be happy when a bunch of college students move in next door. They're bringing money and valuable jobs to the area -- and a little noise or disruption is a small price to pay.

    -- Posted by ScaliaFan on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 4:48 PM

  • Can you say, “tongue in cheek?”

    I am well aware that the university’s payroll is over $50 million and the benefits that college students bring to the local economy. It benefits me directly (my wife works at the university) and indirectly (I rent a house to a college student). I threw the “kegger” paragraph in, basically because it made me laugh. No offense.

    As a landlord, I do realize that there are a reasonable number of people who can occupy a given space based on square footage and bathrooms. I’m afraid that some of the “slum lords” who prey on the local college market care only for their own bottom line and it shows in upkeep of their properties.

    Thanks for reading.

    -- Posted by Brad_Hollerbach on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 6:27 PM

  • Love your blog! It always makes me laugh.

    -- Posted by semoINDIAN on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 9:19 PM

  • I knew SEMO picked up Howard's and the Gulf station, but I hadn't heard about the other two yet.

    -- Posted by T_J on Fri, Dec 12, 2008, at 10:25 PM

  • Maybe I missed it, but where is Howard's moving to?

    -- Posted by tom on Sat, Dec 13, 2008, at 12:57 AM

  • My understanding is they are moving across the street into the front of the old Craftsman Office Supply building.

    Thanks for reading.

    -- Posted by Brad_Hollerbach on Sat, Dec 13, 2008, at 5:38 PM

  • With the three month University hiring freeze just handed down from the top this last week, if a sizeable ammount of public money is spent on those properties besides demolition Dr. Dobbins will have a riot on his hands. Interesting to see if Dr. Dobbins gets a raise with all of the operating budgets cut down to the bare bones. Doubtful if there will be a raise for any of the hourly and lower salaried workers this year.

    -- Posted by mynameismud on Sun, Dec 14, 2008, at 1:39 AM

  • SEMO and The City Of Cape conspire together to buy properties along Broadway. By refusing to issue business permits to properties SEMO wants to buy. They can then claim its unused buildings and try to buy them cheap. This is City wide corruption that needs to be checked into.

    Someone from our local media should do a investigative report on why, The City of Cape Girardeau, Travis Bickings, and others in his group are working so hard to keep many local business from opening along two blocks of Broadway. I have seen first hand, and heard about, them bullying small businesses. Losing plans, making outlandish demands, making up codes, dragging their feet, and just plane overlooking people. All as a way to keep them from opening businesses in properties along Broadway and Main street. A business loses money everyday they are not open. And they are using many underhanded tactics to run people out of money before even opening.

    In a time when the economy is in the tank. And local businesses are closing by the dozens all over town. It seems to me that the City Of Cape would want to help people get new places open. Not fight the business owners every step, and in some cases cause them to not open at all. Banks are not giving loans to new companies, some businesses are already closing, and even more people will soon be out of work.

    If I were to advise anyone about opening new business. First thing I would tell them is NOT to open in Cape. It would be better to go to Jackson, Perryville, Scott City, Carbondale or even Poplar Bluff. Those towns want new business. They encourage growth in those towns, Cape however is not doing this. This town is very hard, and sometimes impossible to work with. I know of at least 6 business in the downtown and Broadway that have run into trouble with this group of Cape City Elite.

    I have heard rumors that they are in fact working secretly with SEMO to help buy up properties along Broadway. (Watch for new announcements about SEMO purchases there soon.) I am all for SEMO taking over unused properties. We all know they have the money to to it, and make it look nice. HOWEVER I am against City Officials strong arming property owner out of their buildings. Or keeping people from opening business as a way to keep the property "unused" to help keep the building price down. Landowners should not be forced out of buildings they wish to use.

    Most of these store owners will not, and do not want to go public with all of this. They know it will only bring down more heat, and cause them even more trouble from the city. They just want to get open, or in some cases stay open.

    The corruptions in this city go deep. A real house cleaning needs to happen here. City Hall is already in a secret internal civil war with several people quiting their jobs there altogether. Citizens of Cape, it is time to wake up! It is time for you to look beyond the Washington corruption. And look at the greed, unfair trade, and back scratchings that runs our own City. It's time to clean house here in Cape.

    "There are of course those who do not want us to speak. I suspect even now, orders are being shouted into telephones, and men with guns will soon be on their way. Why? Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there? Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you, and in your panic you turned to the now high chancellor. He promised you order, he promised you peace, and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent..... Not anymore. Remember, remember the 5th of November. The gunpowder, treason, and plot. I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot."-V

    Posted by timexx

    -- Posted by timexx on Wed, Dec 24, 2008, at 3:02 PM

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