HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS FLOURISH IN REGION

If the past seven years are any indication -- and they are -- 1998 and beyond bode well for continued construction of large subdivisions and housing units in the area.

"I see steady growth continuing in the residential market, especially as long as interest rates stay down and there's an incentive to build," said Richard Murray, inspection services director for Cape Girardeau.

There are about a dozen subdivisions in the area that are in various phases of development. Most are located on the northern and western edges of the city but some are being built in the southern section of town.

Subdivisions also are being built in Jackson, Fruitland, Scott City, Malden and Sikeston.

Residential construction is occurring throughout the region. Houses are going up in Chaffee, Advance, Marble Hill, Perryville and many other places.

In all parts of Cape Girardeau, there are vacant lots suitable for housing. Last year the city tore down about 60 homes in the floodplain. Homes can no longer be built there; however, homes can be built on other sites recently cleared of condemned structures.

Murray said a government program is helping to build 15 homes for low-income families. Most of the homes are located on Pacific, Benton, Good Hope and Henderson streets.

"I'm surprised we don't see more of this type of development because the lots are there as are the utilities and infrastructure," Murray said, adding that people often tell him there are not enough affordable homes in the city.

In the recent past, most homes built in the city "tended to be large and expensive," Murray said. The average price was about $175,000 and the living space often approached 10,000 square feet.

A new builder appeared on the scene last year when Holigan Family Investments Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, announced plans to pump more than $75 million into Southeast Missouri through purchase or development of residential subdivisions in Cape Girardeau, Scott and Stoddard counties and the startup of a manufactured-homes plant in Sikeston.

In Cape Girardeau, Holigan Homes is selling houses in Forest Hills Estates and in Ashland Courts. In Jackson, Savannah Ridge subdivision is under development. There are Holigan subdivisions in Scott City, Malden, Dexter and Sikeston.

Kent Bratton, Cape Girardeau city planner, said construction on subdivisions like those built by Holigan Homes and other development companies likely will continue for several years.

Bratton said lots and homes are available in Northfield, Lynwood Hills and Rendrag subdivisions along Lexington Avenue.

North of Lexington Avenue, the Randall Farms and Wyandott Acres developments are under construction.

Woodland Hills estates, off Route W, was recently rezoned for multiple-family housing. Bratton said, "We'll see a final plan on Clarkton Place later this year once New Hopper Road is built." The road will connect with Mount Auburn Road.

Talks are under way to construct several other subdivisions, one of which would be off Bloomfield Road, he said.

Murray said there has been a "general lack of single-family dwellings in Cape for years. But we are making a dent in that demand market."

Last year 222 permits were issued for residential construction. The permits cover building new homes, adding onto or remodeling existing homes.

"When you have 222 permits generating millions of dollars, that is a true vote of confidence in the area," Murray said, adding that Cape Girardeau has been in a "full-blown building boom since 1990 ... I don't see a change in that."

In Jackson, statistics provided by the Public Works Department show 93 new home permits were issued in 1997. The construction value was $10.1 million. Residential construction is steadily increasing.

Commercial construction across Southeast Missouri is slated to increase in 1998 and beyond. That translates into more residential construction.

Two of the newest projects are the $35 million expansion at BioKyowa in the Nash Road industrial area of Cape Girardeau and a $6 million expansion of Gates Rubber Co. in Charleston. The BioKyowa project means about 50 more jobs and Gates Rubber will add about 175 workers.

Other previously announced projects include the $350 million Procter & Gamble expansion in Cape Girardeau County; the Associated Electric Cooperative-Pan Energy Trading and Market Services $100 million power plant in Dunklin County; a $35 million Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream Co. plant in Sikeston and a $56 million improvement to the Noranda Aluminum plant near New Madrid.

"Commercial growth means more jobs and incomes," said Murray. And residential growth is closely tied to economic development, he added.