Broadway widening would cost two homes

The Cape Girardeau City Council voted Monday to proceed with plans to widen Broadway between Perry Avenue and Houck Place despite opposition from a woman who said she didn't want to lose her home and art studio to the road project.

Lauren Tracy told the council she doesn't want to leave the brick home at 1310 Broadway. Tracy said she bought the house just east of the Hardee's restaurant two years ago.

City manager Doug Leslie said Lauren Tracy's home is one of two structures on the north side of Broadway that would have to be torn down to make room for the street improvements. Neighboring properties on the north side of the street would lose some land to make room for the street improvements, city officials said.

Tracy said she doesn't think the city should widen that section of Broadway to five lanes. Tracy said city staff only informed her about a month ago that the city planned to buy her property.

"I thought improvements might be widening the sidewalks and adding landscaping," she said.

To her surprise, she said, she learned she would be forced to move if the city proceeds with the street project as planned.

"This is sometimes the bad part of progress," Mayor Jay Knudtson said. "I don't know how to tell somebody you are going to lose your home."

Debra Tracy, who lives along West End Boulevard not far from the intersection with Broadway, said widening Broadway would only add to the traffic congestion. She said the neighbors she has spoken to are opposed to the plan.

"I could see making it a one-way street," she said.