AT LEAST $200 MILLION WORTH OF CONSTRUCTION FORECAST OVER NEXT TWO YEARS

Cape Girardeau is a retail, medical and education center. But these days it is also a center of construction.

Chamber of Commerce officials estimate there will be $200 million worth of construction in Cape Girardeau over the next two years.

That estimate includes a number of public projects, as well as large commercial ventures. It doesn't include any residential construction.

Among activities are continuing work on the Cape LaCroix-Walker Branch flood-control project, construction of a new business building at Southeast Missouri State University, improvements to the Route K overpass, construction work on the new Mississippi River bridge route, and development of riverboat gambling facilities.

"I think the $200 million is probably a conservative figure for the next 24 months, all things considered," the chamber's past chairman, Ollie Miller, said.

Miller said the figure includes an estimated $40 million in construction on the university campus, including both the business building and a Towers residence hall renovation project.

Mehner said the construction work will pump hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy. "A lot of those projects will use local suppliers and local folks."

When completed, many of the projects will also add to the economy. The bridge route, street and sewer improvements will open areas for development, while the College of Business building will aid in industrial recruitment, Mehner said.

While the overall economy benefits from all the construction, there can be a down side. That has been the case with flood-control work along Walker Branch that borders Town Plaza shopping center. The construction work kept some customers away from Town Plaza stores last year.

One of the hardest hit businesses was Town Plaza Amoco station at Kingshighway and William. The service station is just east of the creek.

"It had a big impact on our business," owner Eileen Gates said. Gasoline sales dropped by about 20 percent over the course of the spring, summer and early fall.

The flood-control work went on within feet of the service station pumps from April to October.

"There were three or four months that it was worse than others," she recalled. "We are returning to our normal stage of business now," she said.

Gates said the concrete channel is a major improvement since the construction work has moved northward, beyond the service station.

"The property looks a lot better," she said.

Ed McCormick owns Room Mates in Town Plaza. He said the construction work hurt his water bed, pool and spa business last year.

"I think it made it less attractive for people to try to come into this part of town unless they had to," he said. "Our traffic has been noticeably lighter," he said.

McCormick has operated a retail store in Town Plaza since 1970. Prior to Room Mates, he was part-owner of a clothing store.

He said the construction work has been a headache for Town Plaza stores. "I haven't seen this big a mess since the floods."

But Mehner and Miller said the flood-control work and other construction projects ultimately benefit the community.

Miller said the construction dollars will turn over three times in the community. He said economic development leads to more jobs.

Mehner said, "It is going to have a direct impact on everything, including the quality of life."

He said: "If you have nice streets that look good and development areas that look good, that lends itself to more churches and schools and that type of thing. That all has an impact on the quality of life."