Cape Girardeau is first city to finish DREAM Initiative planning

Marla Mills, executive director of Old Town Cape discusses the Good Hope and Harrig district development opportunity with a group of community members in a meeting about the DREAM Initiative or Downtown Revitalization and Economic Development for Missouri April 14 at the Convocation Center at the River Campus. (Elizabeth Dodd) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Cape Girardeau now officially has a DREAM and, next year, an aquatic center will open.

On Monday, the Cape Girardeau City Council approved the strategic plan developed for the Downtown Revitalization and Economic Development for Missouri, or DREAM Initiative, capping a planning process that took almost three years.

The vote, by a unanimous council, makes Cape Girardeau the first of the original 10 DREAM cities designated by Gov. Matt Blunt in 2006 to complete the planning process, said Kim Martin, a state DREAM Initiative liaison staff person working for the Missouri Development Finance Board. Martin said Cape Girardeau's "graduation" from the planning process won't end the city's status that helps it obtain priority help from the state on projects to implement the plan.

"We intend to be here five, 10, 15 years from now," Martin said.

DREAMing big

The DREAM Initiative used surveys of businesses, visitors and city residents to gauge opinions about downtown areas and how they could be enhanced. The plan approved Monday includes a call to form a Community Improvement District, with taxing authority, to finance public portions of the redevelopment project.

The long-term goals call for a major attraction such as a river museum and aquarium at Broadway and Main Street, housing development in the Haarig-Good Hope area and a University Village along Broadway near Southeast Missouri State University.

The Community Improvement District, which requires approval from the majority of the landowners in any proposed boundaries, is the first step toward implementing the plan, said Marla Mills, executive director of Old Town Cape. "A lot of the success depends on the CID," she said.

Aquatic center plans

The aquatic center, promised as part of the parks and storm-water tax approved in April 2008, will be built by Penzel Construction Inc. of Jackson. Penzel's bid of $6.8 million for the center with all the optional add-ons was about $1 million below the engineering estimate. The project also includes expansion of the Osage Community Centre.

While the bid for construction may be $1 million below estimates, the need to keep contingency funds in escrow and the cost of other work including site preparation, means the project will be near budget, said Dan Muser, director of the city parks department.

"By the time we get it all set and done counting, I am not expecting to have much left over," Muser said.

But coming in close to budget was a relief. The council approved a $25,000 engineering contract with Bowen Engineering and Surveying Inc. to rework part of the project plans for the Shawnee Community Center and Shawnee Park Improvement Project. Bids for that project were rejected earlier this year when all proposals came in well over budget estimates.

The aquatic center will, barring unforeseen delays, open as expected next spring, Muser said.

The council also approved a series of engineering and construction contracts to continue work building basins and improving drainage for the $2 million storm-water control program.

Other action

The council also approved a contract with Jacobs Engineering Group of St. Louis to study Cape Girardeau's wastewater treatment options for replacing or rehabilitating the sewer plant at 429 Cooper St. The city must meet tough new standards for wastewater discharges or face potential penalties from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The council also approved appointment of Doug Austin, Jerry Cooley, Ellen Dillon, Shaun McClintock, Ross McFerron, Eric "Red" Redinger and Dru Reeves as members of the Girardeau Goes Green Advisory Board. Kathleen Conway and Stephen Overmann were appointed as ex-officio members and Councilwoman Debra Tracy will be the council liaison for the board that will make recommendations on improving city energy efficiency and reducing waste.

rkeller@semissourian.com

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Pertinent Addresses:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

1625 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

1157 S. West End Blvd., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

429 Cooper St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.