DEMOLITION BEGINS ON OLD ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL

Demolition of old St. Francis Hospital at Good Hope and Pacific streets is under way.

City officials said the structure, which was built in two phases in 1913 and 1938, should be down by Oct. 7.

A demolition crew is following an asbestos-removal crew, said City Manager Michael Miller.

A contract for $725,000 was award to Ahrens Contracting Inc. of E. St. Louis, Ill., for the asbestos removal and demolition of the building. The contract calls for completion in 65 days.

Ahrens subcontracted with Mead Environmental Associates Inc. of Cape Girardeau to remove the asbestos, which has been taken from the boiler room and older section of the building.

The demolition crew moved in late last week and made quick work of the boiler room. The wrecking ball was then directed to the top floor of the oldest section of the hospital.

Demolition of the building will clear the way for a 48-unit apartment complex at the site. Philips Development Corp. of Little Rock, Ark., owns the property and could start construction late this fall. The complex will include a number of two-story, vinyl and brick buildings, a community room and laundry. It will also house offices for Family Resource Center Inc.

Philips is expected to have a subcontractor on site the day after the property is cleared.

The demolition process involves environmental studies and asbestos removal.

The city was awarded a $250,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development to help pay some of the demolition costs. The city will pay another $150,000, and Philips Co. will pay the remaining $325,000 of the demolition costs. Philips will save the hospital cornerstone as a marker at the site.

The building was condemned in 1998. It was used as a hospital until St. Francis Medical Center opened in 1976. It subsequently was sold to Southeast Missouri State University, which housed students in the building until 1985.

A Texas man purchased the property in 1988, but his plans for a senior housing center ran afoul of the city's building code. After his death, the property went to his estate. It was purchased by a Springfield, Mo., man before being sold to Philips.