FEDERAL BUILDING PLAN A SURPRISE

Several years ago when the General Services Administration announced plans to build a new federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau, officials said it would complement -- not replace -- the existing federal building at 339 Broadway.

The plan was for judicial agencies to occupy the new courthouse while other federal bureaucracies, some of which are spread all over town, would take over the old building.

At the time, you'll remember, the GSA wanted to demolish historic homes on the city block just behind the federal building on Themis for the new courthouse. The feds rejected other sites -- including old St. Francis Hospital, the popular choice among locals -- because they wanted the two buildings located within walking distance. After much public outcry, the GSA settled on a site near Independence and Frederick streets just west of City Hall.

Somewhere along the line, plans changed.

Many were surprised last month when the Cape Girardeau County Commission announced it was looking into buying the old federal building. A GSA spokesman says there simply aren't enough federal agencies in town to fill up the building once the courts move out. If the county buys the old building, it would lease space back to the federal government for those offices that remain.

Were the sale to take place -- and mind you, this is all just talk at the moment -- it could set off a round of musical courthouses.

After the federal courts moved into the new building, the county would move its Cape Girardeau-based courts and offices out of the Common Pleas Courthouse on Lorimier Street and into the old federal building. The city of Cape Girardeau, which already owns the Common Pleas Courthouse and formerly used it as City Hall, would then move some of its city offices back into that building.

This possible Big Moving Day for city, county and federal government could be beneficial for all involved. At this point it's too early to tell, but it's certainly worth looking into.

But many are still left wondering: When did the plans change?