Fate of Cape's old federal building undetermined; homeless advocate expresses interest

A Missouri advocate for the homeless who once operated a shelter in Cape Girardeau could return with plans for the soon-to-be-empty federal building on Broadway.

The federal building, built in the 1960s and used as a courthouse until last summer, was declared federal surplus property in December. Under federal law, the first priority for using such buildings is as a homeless shelter.

A move by the Rev. Larry Rice, founder of the New Life Evangelistic Center, could block county officials from obtaining the building. No formal applications have been filed, but Rice's letter of interest in February, reported to the county by the U.S. General Services Administration, keeps his options open. The building will be empty by October, when offices of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI are scheduled to move.

Organizations competing for federal property must show that their request is worthy and compelling enough to outweigh the needs of the homeless.

Rice could not be reached for comment last week.

The county sees the federal building as a possible replacement for the Common Pleas Courthouse, a pre-Civil War structure viewed as crowded and expensive to maintain. The federal building is more modern, accessible and has securable facilities. Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones informed the GSA of the county's interest in a letter dated Jan. 15. Since then, the commission has been going through the application process to acquire the building.

"It would be an ideal location for the county and at some time there has to be a move made to find a facility for the offices that are over there [at the Common Pleas Courthouse] now. I know the city has interest of us staying in the downtown area, and we would very much like to be able to do that," Jones said.

The old federal building at 339 Broadway was declared surplus property late last year.

Jones said commissioners are working with the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission and Don McQuay of the public works department and looking at renovation costs.

"We'll just keep plugging away," he said.

Jones declined to comment on Rice's interest.

Since founding New Life Evangelistic Center more than 35 years ago, Rice has built the not-for-profit organization into a multistate operation. It operates 12 homeless shelters and 14 "free stores" in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas and Kansas. In addition, New Life operates a network of nine television stations and 16 radio stations, some of which operate commercially to support the ministry.

Rice has also jumped into the political arena, making unsuccessful bids for lieutenant governor and governor as well as proposing initiatives to outlaw the death penalty.

In 1991, Rice opened an overnight shelter for homeless men in Cape Girardeau at 713 Morgan Oak St., as well as a free-clothing store at 625 Broadway. Both operations closed a few years later.

New Life has until May 6 to apply for the old federal building. As of Friday, the GSA had not received any application, according to spokeswoman Cara Hoevet. But if New Life follows through with an application, the Department of Health and Human Services will have 25 days to decide if it is best suited for the property.

Mayor Jay Knudtson said it's too early to make a statement about the proposed shelter but that he supports the county's use of the facility.

"I think it's up to us to make the case that we have a higher and best use for that facility. I believe the facility can serve our citizenry in a much more efficient manner if it assists the county in consolidating issues that are currently at Common Pleas Courthouse. That facility is certainly past its day. Its highest and best use is something of the historical value," Knudtson said.

cwest@semissourian.com

388-3654

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