Former federal building may have buyer after 'Gone Girl' filming

The former federal building at 339 Broadway has been brought back into the spotlight -- literally -- as actors Ben Affleck and Tyler Perry walk in and out of its doors during the shooting of the feature film "Gone Girl."

Thomas M. Meyer of Exit Realty, the building's real estate broker, may soon be taking the building's for-sale sign down for good.

The 60,000 square foot "fortress," as Meyer calls it, is listed at $1 million and has had a number of inquiries, including for use in the 20th Century Fox and New Regency feature film "Gone Girl," which is based on the best-selling novel of the same name written by Kansas City, Mo., native Gillian Flynn. The novel was published in June 2012, and the plot centers on the difficult marriage of writers Nick and Amy Dunne and whether Nick killed his wife on their fifth wedding anniversary.

After filming at the federal building is finished, Meyer said two prospects are lined up to view the 44-year-old building.

The building is owned by Majid Hemmasi of RDRH Holdings Inc. of Austin, Texas, who purchased it in the General Services Administration's second auction of the building last year. The General Services Administration oversees the sale of all federally owned property, and rejected bids as high as $650,000 before improvements, selling it to Hemmasi in excess of the county's $300,000 bid. The county was given a chance to purchase it at retail, but passed on the $525,000 asking price, citing needed costly improvements.

Hemmasi offered the space for the shooting of "Gone Girl" free of charge to bring attention to Cape Girardeau, he said. Meyer said Hemmasi was very receptive to the idea and allowing use of the building for the benefit of the community.

In a news conference announcing his run for re-election for mayor of Cape Girardeau, Harry Rediger said one of the frustrations of his current term as mayor was dealing with the federal building and its fate with the General Services Administration.

"It's been very disappointing that we didn't get that transition made back at the time we were dealing with General Services Administration," Rediger said Thursday.

Rediger said he wants the building sold or leased, and the potential buyer would have to have a unique, entrepreneurial vision for the building, which houses a large courtroom and a holding area for prisoners.

"My desire is just to get it sold and get the building back into use," Rediger said.

Hemmasi envisions the building being used as a technical college or a pre-legal training facility. He spoke of how the building is ideal for such prospects, especially because of its location in downtown Cape Girardeau, close to a university and the Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. U.S. Courthouse.

Meyer said there are many possibilities for the use of the federal building, which would be ideal for a small business office complex, a training location for lawyers or even as an exercise space, complete with a handball or basketball court. Indoor parking would be an option, considering the structurally sound, reinforced concrete at the back of the building, and decks on the roof with a view of the Mississippi River also would be possible, Meyer said.

"There's a lot of possibilities; it's just a matter of thinking outside the box," he said.

adowning@semissourian.com

388-3632

Pertinent address:

339 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO