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NewsDecember 8, 1998

The Cape Girardeau City Council Monday granted preliminary approval of a site plan request for construction of a new anchor store at West Park Mall. A site plan filed with the city in relation to another matter listed the tenant of the proposed store as Sears, Roebuck and Co., which currently operates a store at 2102 William...

The Cape Girardeau City Council Monday granted preliminary approval of a site plan request for construction of a new anchor store at West Park Mall.

A site plan filed with the city in relation to another matter listed the tenant of the proposed store as Sears, Roebuck and Co., which currently operates a store at 2102 William.

With no discussion, the council also approved a new cooperation agreement with Southeast Missouri State University to develop the proposed River Campus. The agreement substitutes for a previous agreement, which had to be altered to reflect changes in the funding mechanism and the obligations of both parties. Southeast's Board of Regents will vote on the revised agreement Friday.

Jim Agliata, a representative of the mall's owner, Westfield Corporation Inc., declined to comment when asked by a reporter if Sears would be the mall tenant.

At 126,496-square-feet, the new, two-level store would be larger than the mall's other three anchors: Famous Barr, JCPenney and ShopKo, which is expected to open by March in the space that formerly housed Venture.

A final vote on the site plan is scheduled for Dec. 21, when the council is also expected to grant final approval to the River Campus agreement.

That project, which will cost an estimated $35.6 million, calls for construction of a visual and performing arts center on the site of the former St. Vincent's Seminary on Morgan Oak Street.

Under the revised agreement, the university will seek to have bonds issued for the project through a state bonding authority.

The city will direct portions of proceeds from its hotel-motel and restaurant taxes into a university-held account, with that money going to help retire the bonds.

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The city also agreed not to divert the tax money to other purposes or to ask voters to reduce or repeal the taxes prior to their established expiration date of 2030.

The city's share of the project's cost is $8.9 million. The university is expected to provide an additional $8.9 million in university funds and private donations.

Southeast is also responsible for lobbying the Missouri Legislature for $17.8 million for the project.

In other matters:

-- The council gave first-reading approval to a special-use permit for Cape Girardeau County to build a juvenile justice center in the 2100 block of Locust Street.

-- Established a Vision 2020 Community Relations Committee to replace the existing Vision 2000 committee, which will disband at the turn of the millenium.

The Vision 2020 group will be charged with developing a long-range, community improvement plan.

-- Approved, by a 4-3 vote, a special-use permit for Ameritech to construct and operate a cellular phone tower on city owned property at 2815 Perryville Road.

Five nearby residents spoke in opposition to the tower, which they felt would be an eyesore and out of place in a residential area.

The vote on the 140-foot tower had been delayed from the council's Nov. 16 meeting after residents' opposition prompted the council to seek more information on the proposal.

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