City to hold hearing on condemned buildings in downtown Cape Girardeau

The fate of two downtown Cape Girardeau buildings will be determined at a condemnation hearing Nov. 28. The former Wiggery building at 101 N. Main St. was initially condemned in August due to structural issues, and the Dino's Pizza building at 1034 Broadway was condemned in September following a fire.

Property owners were given a 30-day notice to make repairs, however no progress has been made at either property, said Stephen Williams, who oversees condemnation procedures for the city's development services department.

To qualify for condemnation, buildings must have at least one of 12 defects making them "dangerous buildings" with conditions detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the city, according to city ordinances. These include structural problems, foundation problems, damage from fires or other disasters, faulty construction, inadequate sanitation facilities, insufficient egress in case of fire, and a lack of doors or windows.

The Dino's Pizza building is estimated to be at least 40 percent damaged, according to city inspections, following a fire there Aug. 10. The fire began in the basement and spread into the restaurant and the living quarters above the restaurant, Williams said.

The building is considered unfit for human occupation under city codes, so now its owner, Kostas "Gus" Demopoulos must either make repairs or tear the building down.

Williams said Demopoulos has been in contact with the city and has expressed an intent to make repairs, once a settlement is reached with his insurance company. Demopoulos could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

"The individuals who have an ownership interest in the property should come to the hearing and sit down and talk with us about what they're going to do and what their time frames are," Williams said.

At the Nov. 28 hearing, Williams said, he and building supervisor and local lawyer Steve Southard hope to meet with the owners of both properties to learn more about their plans with the goal of moving the process along in a timely manner. Following the hearing, the city is likely to issue an order, either giving the owner a specific period of time to make the improvements, or require the building to be torn down.

Merriwether Investments, operated by John Wyman, owns the former Whiggery building on Main Street. The building is listed on the National Register as part of the Cape Girardeau Commercial Historic District. The Sturdivant Bank, the oldest bank in Southeast Missouri, was established in that building in the 1890s.

According to Williams, the three-story building has problems with its exterior structure due to the building settling over time. The property owners installed a wooden cover to shield passers-by from possible falling bricks several months ago and installed some bracing on the corners of the building.

Last fall, a home decor and gift shop operated in the building for a few months, but it has been vacant for nearly a year.

The city has not received any correspondence from Merriwether Investments concerning the company's plans for the building, Williams said. Wyman could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

The Dino’s Pizza building on Broadway in Cape Girardeau has been condemned. (Laura Simon)

City inspectors estimate about 30 percent of the building is damaged, but Marla Mills, executive director of Old Town Cape, said her organization has been trying to find someone who might be interested in buying and saving the building.

She said it would be disheartening to see the Main Street building torn down.

"It's an iconic part of downtown. It will definitely be a sad day if that building comes down. But this is the process in place that either forces people to do something to an unsafe building or to take it down," Mills said.

It makes much more sense for that building to be a viable business generating tax revenue for the city than an empty lot, she said.

"It's a difficult position. We never want to jeopardize safety of the citizens and the people that are around these buildings," Mills said. "It's important for property owners to maintain their buildings and be safe."

The Nov. 28 condemnation hearings will be held at 1 p.m. in city council chambers at city hall. It will be up to Southard to issue orders for the future of these buildings following the hearings.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

101 N. Main St., Cape Girardeau, Mo

1034 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo