CITY'S HOSPITALS ENGAGED IN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

Four houses have been razed and four more are scheduled to go as part of Southeast Missouri Hospital's plan to create "green space" around its facility.

Across town at St. Francis Medical Center, work on a new medical offices building is progressing.

Crews from Nip Kelley Construction were working Wednesday clearing a lot at 415 N. Louisiana St. Another house in that block was torn down Tuesday.

In addition, two houses on Lacey Street have already been razed, said Sally Owen, a spokeswoman for Southeast.

Four houses on Broadway are also scheduled to be torn down.

"At the present time, the plan is to turn the area into green space," Owen said. Hospital officials also hope to improve the view of the hospital from Broadway, she said.

Southeast administrators are looking at expanding the facility. The hospital recently bought property on Broadway near Pizza Hut that will be used for expansion, including the possible construction of a professional building for physicians.

A decision is expected by the end of the year.

At St. Francis Medical Center, a 600-plus parking garage has been completed, and work has begun on the interior of a new 98,000-square-foot medical office building, said hospital spokeswoman Mary Spell.

Construction on the interior of the new building's third and fourth floor is near completion and the building's exterior is also being finished up, Spell said.

Construction has started on the first-floor interior and plans for the second-floor interior are in the final stages, she said.

Concrete work has also started at the medical office building.

The new building and parking garage are expected to open at the beginning of February 1998.

The medical office building is 70 percent leased. The first floor of the building will house Convenient Care, Womancare and other hospital services. The top three floors will house physician offices, Spell said.