HAARIG A STUDY IN CONTRASTS

A priest, a cop, a university employee, business owners and housewives were among the 30 people who went looking for the best and the worst of the Haarig area Thursday afternoon.

They found plenty of contrasts along the hourlong tour: barely habitable shacks next door to lovingly kept houses, junked cars visible on the grounds of one business while others appeared pristine. Some of the sidewalks are so cracked and buckled as to make walking difficult. But down the street sit some of the city's grandest houses.

The walking tour was sponsored by the Haarig Area Development Association in an effort to show the city they're serious about cleaning up the downtown area bisected by Good Hope Street.

The mayor, police chief, city council members and the city manager were invited along on the tour. Councilman Melvin Gateley, City Manager J. Ronald Fischer and City Planner Kent Bratton attended.

A recurring theme sounded by Dennis Meyer, chairman of the Haarig Association, is that the city in some cases has not done its duty by Haarig.

Meyer paused at 18 different sites along the tour, which included parts of Good Hope, Spanish, Merriwether, Lorimier, Morgan Oak, Middle, William and Frederick streets.

He pointed out trash-filled lots and ongoing attempts at renovation or in some cases historic restoration. He showed the walkers one house the city began condemnation proceedings against in June. Fischer said a resolution in some such cases takes a year because of extensions.

The last stop was the abandoned St. Francis hospital building at Good Hope and Pacific streets. Meyer called it "the biggest eyesore in Cape Girardeau.

"I feel like this is something the city's really fallen down on.

"...If something would happen to it, it would bring the whole neighborhood up."

Meeting afterward at Hobo's Restaurant, the group decided to take its case for more lighting and security before the city council.

"All we're pushing for is to make this a safe place," said John Wyman, who moved his Mollie's restaurant away from Good Hope Street because, he says, customers were afraid to go there.

"If it was safe, people would move down here," Wyman continued.

Wyman's family lives in a restored house on a portion of Merriwether Street that was part of the tour.

Realtor Thomas L. Meyer also thinks that upgrading safety ought to be the area's first priority. "When I have state agencies say, `Don't move into that neighborhood,' I get a little bit nervous," he said.

Others claimed there are plenty of ordinances on the books that would clean up Haarig but they aren't being enforced.

They also want the city to follow through on its promise to establish drug-free and gun-free zones in the area.

Wyman said the group sponsored the tour to make the city aware of its intention to continue to press for better enforcement and more responsiveness.

"What we wanted to let them know was that we're serious. This is not just a shot in the dark."

"...The most important thing is to show the city that people are concerned and involved," he said.