Cape to hold hearings on downtown sidewalks

The city of Cape Girardeau will host the first of two public meetings Sept. 3, presenting information and asking for input on the Downtown Sidewalk Replacement Project.

A 30-minute presentation by city staff and project consultants will be given, followed by an open house where attendees can view displays of possible improvement projects and speak with the project team.

"The Downtown Sidewalk Replacement Project is a unique opportunity to see what can be done to further transform our downtown area," said Tim Richmond, civil engineer for the City of Cape Girardeau Development Services Department.

It focuses on improvements on several downtown streets, starting with Spanish, Main and Water. Sidewalk improvements would be top of the list, followed by streetscape and place-making -- which refers to community-based reinvention of public spaces -- concepts.

"It's a sidewalk project; that's really what it is. But as part of that project, we are looking at a concept plan for the downtown area so we can maybe implement some of that stuff into the sidewalk project," city engineer Casey Brunke said.

Before concrete is poured, she said the idea is to have a plan based on public input and ready to roll out.

The project likely will be completed in phases because of funding. Phase one is the only portion of the project funded. About $150,000 in casino revenue set aside for downtown and riverfront area improvements and about $800,000 from Transportation Trust Fund 4 will go toward the project.

Deputy city manager Molly Hood said the city's Capital Improvements Program called for replacing sidewalks and streetlights downtown. The lights are maintained by the Downtown Special Business District and would be taken over by the city.

"It really makes sense to do those [sidewalk and light replacements] hand-in-hand because, obviously, the infrastructure for the lights is in the sidewalks, so we want to do it all at one time," Hood said.

She also said the infrastructure in the lights is "ancient" and constantly breaking, which is why the city wants to bring them up to modern standards.

Although the city does not have funding to complete all of the improvements downtown, Hood said staff still would like to have input for what consultants have envisioned. Other phases of the project have not yet been identified, Brunke said, but with the plans made after the public meetings, the city would be ready to move forward with construction once money is available.

Input at the first public meeting will be considered, then a follow-up meeting will be scheduled in the fall. The Sept. 3 meeting begins at 5 p.m., and the presentation begins at 5:30 p.m. It will be at the former federal building at 339 Broadway in Cape Girardeau, on the second floor.

Those who wish to provide input or want more information may call Development Services at (573) 339-6327.

srinehart@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

339 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.