Group taking nominations for endangered-buildings list

Once a vaudeville-show crowd pleaser, Cape Girardeau’s vacant Broadway Theater sits shuttered, its interior plaster walls crumbling beneath a leaky roof.

The spacious, brick building at 805 Broadway topped the list of the city’s “endangered buildings” last year. The city’s Historic Preservation Commission annually identifies structures that have historic value and risk being lost because of deterioration or imminent demolition.

The Historic Preservation Commission is accepting public nominations for its 2016 list of endangered buildings. Nominations must be submitted by March 11.

Those submitting nominations are asked to include a statement explaining the building’s historic significance, why they believe it is endangered, suggestions for what measures could be taken to save it and a photo of the building in its current condition.

The commission is scheduled to review the nominations March 30 and finalize the list at its meeting April 20. Both meetings are open to the public and will be in the city council chambers at City Hall, 401 Independence St.

A look near the front entrance Wednesday of the Broadway Theater in downtown Cape Girardeau.Glenn Landberg

Nominations may be submitted through the city’s website, by email to cityplanning@cityofcape.org or by mail to the city hall address.

Alyssa Phares, who is chairwoman of the commission, said the goal of the list is to promote public awareness of the community’s historic buildings and the need to preserve them.

“We would like to highlight the possibilities that might be in that building,” she said.

Phares and Steven Hoffman, a history professor at Southeast Missouri State University and the coordinator of the school’s historic preservation program, said saving old buildings requires owners and developers to envision new uses for the structures.

“First and foremost, it is the vision thing,” Hoffman said.

Too often, people don’t see beyond the building’s deterioration to what it could become if renovated, he said as he walked through the Broadway Theater on Wednesday afternoon.

Hoffman visited the structure with Phares and Kevin Taylor, Old Town Cape development director. Old Town Cape is a not-for-profit organization that works to revitalize Cape Girardeau’s downtown.

Phares said the Broadway Theater, built in 1921, could end up topping the endangered-buildings list again this year.

The theater is on the National Register of Historic Places, along with the nearby and vacant Esquire Theater. Phares would like to see both buildings preserved.

“It would be fantastic if somebody came in and developed them,” she said.

In the past 10 years, public awareness about the value of historic preservation has grown, Phares said.

“There is a big interest to being reconnected to your community,” she said.

Over time, some buildings have been saved; others have been razed.

“I get sad when a historic structure is torn down,” she said.

Phares, Hoffman and Taylor believe the Broadway Theater building still can be saved.

“It is in pretty good shape,” Hoffman said. “The immediate issue is fixing the roof.”

Hoffman praised the building’s original décor, with its “exquisite plaster work” and vintage lighting.

When asked what it would take to restore the building, Hoffman said, “It all comes down to money.”

The structure was built to showcase live theater. The main floor and the balcony seating could accommodate 1,200 people. It later became a movie theater, closing for the final time in 1997.

Phares suggested the building, if renovated, could be used as a multipurpose venue.

“You could have meetings, presentations or receptions there,” she said.

She said it also could offer live theater with flexible seating.

The Historic Preservation Commission and Old Town Cape have joined forces to promote Cape Girardeau’s buildings heritage as part of the national “This Place Matters” campaign. Taylor said Old Town Cape will highlight some of the city’s significant structures on its blog.

Taylor said people have an emotional attachment to old buildings such as the Broadway Theater. They remember going to their first movie.

“It really pulls on the emotional heartstrings,” he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

805 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.