Development: A look at 10 projects from 2009 that are making a difference in the local business world

1A and 1B - Saint Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital

While neither facility will be ready to receive patients for at least another year, the scope of the two projects and the fact that the two hospitals are among the area's largest employers rate these as the most significant business developments of 2010.

Saint Francis broke ground in July 2008 on its Heart Hospital and Cancer Institute. The 180,000-square-foot project is expected to carry a price tag of $84 million, with a fall 2011 target date for completion.

Southeast held groundbreaking ceremonies in January for its Regional Cancer Center, to be located on Mount Auburn Road near the hospital's west campus. The $33 million project is expected to open by December 2010.

3 - Candlewood Suites Hotel

Work began in the fall on the construction of an 89-unit extended stay hotel near the intersection of Highway 74 and Mount Auburn Road. ARV Group LLC of Farmington is the developer behind the project, which is Holiday Inn's extended stay brand.

Pajco, which operates the area's Rhodes 101 Convenience Stores, said they will be building a new store near the hotel, and other businesses are expected to locate near the Candlewood Suites project as well.

4 - Morlan Chrysler

Morlan Auto Group, which operates dealerships in Dexter and Sikeston, purchased the old Saturn of Cape building at 374 Siemers Drive and, after renovations, opened for business as Morlan Chrysler in the fall.

Improvements at the dealership included expansion of the service area, which will also handle the Dodge and Jeep lines. The new player in the auto market in Cape Girardeau was preceded by the closing by Chrysler Corp. of Auffenberg's Chrysler dealership on South Kingshighway.

Morlan says they will carry 125 to 150 new Chrysler products in stock, as well as about 100 used cars and trucks.

5 - William Nobbe and Company

Nobbe, which has operated the John Deere implement dealership in Jackson as well as three others in Illinois, broke ground in May for its new facility on East Outer Road in Scott City. The new 38,000-square-foot facility is located on 11 acres across Interstate 55 from the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

The company will be relocating its Jackson dealership to the new store, which is expected to open this month.

6 - Schultz Senior Apartments

Cape Girardeau developer Chad Hartle purchased the vacant Schultz School property at 101 S. Pacific St. in Cape Girardeau in August of 2008, and the work of renovating the building to accommodate 21 one-bedroom apartments for low-income senior citizens is moving rapidly. An office opened in November to begin the process of renting the units.

The renovations, intended to preserve much of the building's historical integrity, have been partially funded by $600,000 in state and federal tax credits, spread out over 10 years, and a $250,000 grant resulting from Cape's participation in the DREAM Initiative.

7 - Silver K Strip Center

The Sept. 21 opening of Qdoba Mexican Grill marked the official opening of the complex, located at the intersection of William Street and Silver Springs Road. The much-anticipated restaurant is part of a 9,000-square-foot complex that features rehabilitation of the Armed Services building and construction of new retail space.

Silver K Strip Center is a project of DSW Development Corp. of Cape Girardeau.

8 - Independence Center

The 27-unit shopping area between Town Plaza and Independence Street has been undergoing a significant facelift this year, with stone replacing brick on the exterior of the retail stores. The parking lot has been freshly resurfaced, and new lighting and landscaping has been added. The Venue, a 28,000-square-foot full-service banquet and event center, is the result of the renovation of the old Army Reserve office.

Jummie Ready is property manager of Independence Center, which is owned by Dr. Michael Jessup.

9 - Burger King

A fast food fixture in Cape Girardeau for decades, the restaurant at the corner of Broadway and Kingshighway was razed in late summer to make way for a new and improved Burger King, which opened Dec. 1.

MidAmerica Hotels and Drury Restaurants owns the new restaurant, along with 34 other Burger Kings, including stores at Mount Auburn Road and Route K in Cape Girardeau as well as in Jackson and Scott City.

10 - Comfort Suites, Jackson

Southern Illinois hospitality developer Monchino Management opened a new 64-room hotel at 2904 Old Orchard Road in Jackson on March 2. Construction began on the project in 2007. Comfort Suites is part of the Choice Hotels chain.