Broadway project slowed by bumps in property acquisition

City property acquisition continues to be slow going along Broadway with city hall and property owners remaining far apart in some places.

A court date of March 27 has been set for condemnation of a 27-foot stretch of property in front of Global Trading Food Products at 1304 Broadway.

Planning services offered $32,100 for the property and Jerel Lichtenegger, owner of the business, has recently made a counter-offer of $95,000.

The city is also acquiring right of way and temporary construction easements near the Broadway intersection of Clark Avenue. Nine properties between 2020 and 2112 Broadway will see the road widen near their property.

Two extra left-turn lanes will be added there (one going in each direction) and a new stoplight with a left-turn arrow will also be added.

No progress has been made between Cape Girardeau officials and Eleanor Jones, who refuses to sell her gravel lot in front of 304 Park Ave. Officials said the proceedings are likely headed toward a fall jury trial.

"Things don't move fast when you're talking about property acquisition in the court system," said planner Martha Brown. "We are still hoping to have the project completed by the end of the year. That means we'd like work to start in the fall."

Phase two of Broadway construction should begin in late summer or early fall. That phase will widen the stretch from Park Avenue west to Perry Avenue.

Phase two will be a seven-to eight-month project with a projected June 2007 completion date.

The entire project is expected to cost $2.1 million of transportation trust fund sales tax money. In a partner project, Southeast Missouri State University spent more than $1 million to improve its Henderson Avenue entrance.

tgreaney@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245