APARTMENT COMPLEX WORK PROGRESSES

Five buildings in various stages of construction have appeared on a site at Good Hope and Pacific streets.

"We're moving right along," said Steve Greenway of the Philips Development Corp. of Little Rock, Ark. Greenway is in charge of a construction crew working on the Fort Hope project, a 48-unit affordable apartment complex.

Fort Hope will include the five buildings, made of vinyl and brick.

They will house:

* Eight, one-bedroom apartments.

* Four, three-bedroom apartments.

* 32 two-bedroom apartments.

* Family Resource Center Inc. offices.

* Community room and laundry.

The Family Resource Center was founded in 1999 to help develop services for people living in southeast Cape Girardeau.

Parking spaces and sidewalks will also be installed at the complex, which includes three, two-level structures.

"All the buildings will be under roof soon," said Greenway. "We're looking to a late October grand opening for the entire project."

The apartments are not subsidized by the government but range in the low- to moderate-income brackets, from $225 to $365 a month.

In 1999 Philips acquired the property that formerly housed St. Francis Hospital.

The former structure, built in 1914, served as a hospital until 1976 when the St. Francis Medical Center opened. The building was used to house Southeast Missouri State University students until 1985.

The old building was vacated then, condemned in 1998 and razed last fall.

City officials hope the new apartment complex will help spur other development.

"A project like this usually does spur other development in the area," city manager Mike Miller said. "It has sort of a domino effect."

This is in evidence along South Pacific Street, toward William Street where a number of old house are being repaired, some as rental property.

"We're certainly glad to see the project under way," added Miller. "And we're pleased with the quality of work being done."

Philips is familiar with building affordable apartments. The company has constructed more 1,500 units in Arkansas, Missouri and Kentucky. The company consists of Philips Development Cos. and Chester Philips Construction.

The company is working with the Cape Girardeau City Council on plans here.

"The city has been a real asset for us," Greenway said. "They have been cooperative throughout the entire process of razing the old structure and getting the site ready."

INTERESTED?

For more information concerning rentals call Philips Development Corp. at (501) 666-9629