Downtown demand: Will new developments increase the need for housing in downtown Cape Girardeau?

The Marquette Tech District in downtown Cape Girardeau could be occupied as early as this fall. The increased office spaces and promise of fiber-optic Internet within the building and free Wi-Fi throughout much of downtown could bring an influx of young professionals to the area. But whether the downtown area has the means to accommodate newcomers, and whether that should be a concern so soon, remains to be seen.

Options for downtown living have increased over the years, according to Marla Mills, executive director of Old Town Cape. From the Vasterling Suites at Broadway and Fountain Street to the burgeoning popularity of second-floor developments among property owners, those interested in moving downtown have more locations to choose from.

Thomas M. Meyer of Thomas L. Meyer Realty owns the Eagle's Nest Apartments on Lorimier Street through a partnership. He says while the apartments are not currently at capacity, they generally run close to it.

Jason Coalter of Centurion Development LLC is renovating the Lorimier Apartments complex at Lorimier and William streets, and Marla Mills says there has been discussion of other developments in the next year or two that would include housing.

But actual demand for more housing in the area has not yet been reported.

Emerald Henry removes nails from joist beams on the second floor of the Lorimier Apartments March 30 in downtown Cape Girardeau. The apartment building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Cape Girardeau's Endangered Buildings List, is being brought back to life by Centurion Development LLC.Laura Simon

Coalter says with increased student housing on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University, the demand for housing throughout the city has lessened in recent years. Meyer says he's seen a boom in apartment housing due to students, but it's not the same clientele that might be expected from the Marquette Tech District.

Meyer says those interested in developing properties in the downtown region, whether condominiums or apartments, need to consider amenities. Whether it be a river view, loft space or a good location, "it needs to have amenities," Meyer says. "Downtown for downtown's sake won't do it."

But Coalter says he doesn't see the need to develop more rental space at this point. Apartments in Cape Girardeau are not yet at capacity, and can accommodate more people coming in. Instead, he says, the focus should be on bringing revenue into the downtown area. With the forthcoming hotel, "We're going to have 90 more bodies in the area each day with nothing to do in the evening," Coalter says. Developers should consider that aspect, rather than more housing, he adds.