DOWNTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT POSSIBLE; COUNCIL COULD APPLY FOR GRANT

Cape Girardeau's Historic Preservation Commission wants to seek state funding to apply to the National Register of Historic Places for a downtown historic district.

Commissioners also decided Wednesday night to seek state funds for an in-depth survey of the residential area surrounding downtown Cape Girardeau to identify historic properties.

The commission voted to accept the suggestions or Philip R. Thomason, a historic preservationist carrying out a "reconnaissance-level" survey of the city.

Thomason said he is "very confident" Cape Girardeau's downtown business district will as a whole meet criterion for approval as a historic district on the National Register.

The area bordered by Main, Broadway, Themis and Independence should qualify as a historic district, Thomason said.

"As you walk down those streets, you can certainly tell you're in a turn-of-the-century, early 20th century commercial district," he said, adding the architecture of the buildings "gives you that sense of time and place."

Individually, Thomason said, few of the commercial buildings would meet criterion for the National Register. But taken as a whole, the neighborhood has a strong historic flavor, he said.

The National Register designation is "all carrot and no stick," Thomason said, adding the designation does not limit property use or renovations but would give property owners state and federal tax credits for renovation or rehabilitation work that restores property to its historic character.

Brian Driscoll, who chaired the commission meeting, said no action is being taken to set up a local historic district.

Under city ordinance, design guidelines would be implemented in a local district that would limit property use.

Those restrictions are not in place under the National Register designation, Thomason and commission members pointed out.

But while the local designation has more restrictions, it also offers property owners more protection from developments that might clash with the goal of creating a historic area.

Judith Ann Lang of the Downtown Merchants Association said many downtown property owners were concerned about limitations they might face on property use.

But after hearing Thomason's explanation, she said she is optimistic the association will support establishment of the National Register district.

"There's nothing to not support," Lang said. "It's kind of a no-brainer."

Commission members will begin drawing up a proposal to seek state funding for the National Register application and in-depth survey. The City Council will have the final say on whether the grant application is submitted. Deadline for application is Aug. 31.

Thomason is carrying out the citywide survey and drawing up a preservation plan to help identify potential historic districts and set priorities on preserving historic properties. His work is funded through a $20,000 state grant awarded last year.

Commission members indicated the grant they hope to apply for this year will total about the same amount.