Southeast Hospital buying 21 acres

Property overlooks Interstate 55

By Jim Obert

Business Today

Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau is buying 21.2 acres of land near Interstate 55 that the hospital intends to use for future expansion.

The land acquisition will almost double the property owned by the hospital, which is located on Broadway Street near the center of the city.

The announcement was made May 15 at the new property, which is a half-mile south of the intersection of Mount Auburn Road and Highway 74. It is just north of where the new high school is being built.

The undeveloped property is zoned for residential use, according to the city's Planning Department. If any medical buildings were built, the hospital would have to seek a commercial zoning classification.

James Wente, hospital administrator, said there are currently no specific plans to build at the site. He said the hospital wants to study regional health-care needs before making any decisions.

"There is no reason for us to rush to build," said Wente.

Wente said it is possible the hospital could build outpatient services, care centers or clinics on the property, which is bounded by the new extension of Mount Auburn Road on the west and Silver Springs Road on the east.

Wente said approval of the property acquisition is "one of the greatest things the Board of Trustees has ever done to position Southeast Hospital for the future."

The acreage is part of the former Silver Springs farm, which is owned by the F.J. and Lula Armstrong family. The family, under the aegis Armstrong Heritage Trust Inc., donated 4.2 acres of land, and the hospital is buying another 17 acres from them at an undisclosed price.

About 130 people attended the 15-minute press conference, where it was announced the land would be known as the West Campus of Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Since the hospital opened in 1928, it has completed 12 major expansions.