FEDS HOPE TO AVERT WAR ON BUILDING SITE

The government doesn't want a battle to secure a site for a new U.S. courthouse in Cape Girardeau, a federal official said Wednesday.

"Certainly, our intent is not to put a courthouse where it is not wanted," said Jim Ogden of the General Service Administration's regional office in Kansas City.

The GSA wants to deal with property owners who are willing to sell. While the government could condemn property for the project, Ogden said there won't be any large-scale condemnation.

However, should a site fight develop, it could involve the city's Historic Preservation Commission.

Preservationists are worried the government might buy up a downtown neighborhood that includes a number of historic homes and raze them for the 72,000-square-foot courthouse.

"There is a lot of worry and a lot of concern," said John Schneider, commission chairman.

The block in question is bounded on the north by Themis, on the south by Independence, on the east by Lorimier and on the west by Fountain streets.

"It would be really sad to demolish a number of the homes in that area," said Schneider.

The commission will discuss the issue at its Sept. 20 meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. at City Hall, he said.

Schneider said one way to protect the historic houses would be to give them local landmark status. While it wouldn't legally prevent the government from buying them, it would make it more unlikely from a public-relations standpoint.

Schneider said the city's Historic Preservation Commission exists to help preserve the city's architectural heritage and historic buildings.

The federal government wants to build the five-story courthouse in the downtown area. The Federal Building on Broadway would continue to house federal agencies after the courthouse is built.

The GSA has narrowed its site search to a 15-block area bounded by Sprigg Street on the west, Spanish on the east, Independence on the south and Bellevue on the north.

Mayor Al Spradling III suggested the GSA consider the area just west of City Hall. None of the area is owned by the city.

The area, which is southeast of the Independence-Frederick streets intersection, includes an old grain elevator, a former railroad depot and undeveloped land. It also includes a Union Electric substation, which Ogden said would have to be relocated if a courthouse were built there. Ogden said that could be costly.

The area also has drainage problems and doesn't rank high as a potential site, Ogden said.

"We want an entire city block," said Ogden. He said the site demands are based on various needs, including security, parking and future expansion.

There isn't any room for expansion at the Federal Building, and Ogden said the GSA wants a large enough site to provide expansion.

The GSA had planned to hold a public hearing in Cape Girardeau the week of Sept. 25, but that will be moved back to October. Ogden said that with the federal fiscal year ending Sept. 30, the agency must wait until the new budget is in place before it will have travel money for the hearing.

The GSA hopes to select a site by April. Construction could begin in 1998, and the building occupied by mid-2000.