MOST PROPERTY OWNERS: `NO SALE'

A majority of property owners in a two-block area of downtown Cape Girardeau don't want the federal government to buy their homes and raze them for a federal courthouse.

There are 31 property owners in the neighborhood. The area is bounded by Themis on the north, Middle on the west, Lorimier on the east and Independence on the south.

At least 17 property owners say they don't want to sell to the government, which has proposed building a five-story courthouse in the neighborhood.

Most of them live in the neighborhood and take pride in their houses' architecture.

Those who have businesses in the neighborhood appear more ready to sell. For them, there isn't the emotional attachment.

One of the oldest neighborhoods in Cape Girardeau, the area just a block south of Broadway includes a number of century-old houses.

It's a quiet, stable neighborhood of tree-lined sidewalks, and brick and frame homes. Many of them have been renovated or remodeled.

Several apartments, a few businesses and a pre-school are scattered through the neighborhood.

The General Services Administration will hold a public hearing in Cape Girardeau Nov. 16. It will focus on this two-block area south of the existing Federal Building.

The government wants to buy an entire city block in downtown Cape Girardeau.

Jim Ogden of the GSA in Kansas City said neighborhood opposition likely will force the government to look at other downtown sites.

For Julie Briney and her husband, Jeffrey, that would be good news. The Brineys have painstakingly restored a house at 25 N. Fountain that may date back to the late 1880s.

They also own a house just down the street, which they are fixing up.

"We are a solid, family-type neighborhood. We do not want a big, five-story building," said Julie Briney.

Briney and many of her neighbors believe a federal courthouse would be a disaster in either block since Fountain Street runs through the middle of the neighborhood.

"It would destroy the neighborhood," she said.

The Brineys have applied to have the city designate their home as a local landmark.

Like the Brineys, Judith Crow wants a local-landmark designation for her home at 323 Themis.

Bill Burlison, a former congressman from Missouri's 8th District, opposes the zoning designation, contending that the neighborhood would be a good site for a courthouse.

Burlison, who practices law in Maryland, owns a vacant lot next to Crow's home.

Crow's small, white-painted brick home is well over 100 years old.

She has lived in the house since 1964. But age and health may force her to move.

Still, Crow, who loves local history, would hate to see her house destroyed or any others in the neighborhood.

"I can't see tearing down perfectly good houses that are being used," she said.

Alan Naslund and his wife Sarah Riley live at 34 N. Fountain in a century-old frame house.

"I think the area itself is too valuable historically to be demolished or changed," Naslund said.

The couple would like to get their home on the National Register of Historic Places.

Naslund wants to make the two blocks a historic district. He said that would make it almost impossible for the government to tear down the homes.

William and Barbara Port live in a 105-year-old brick home at 423 Themis. Like many of their neighbors, they want the federal government to look elsewhere.

"There are enough other blocks that have derelict buildings on them that I think they could find another site," Barbara Port said.

But Vera Windisch said she understands why the government wants to build a new courthouse in one of the two blocks.

The existing Federal Building, the Common Pleas Courthouse and City Hall are all nearby.

"In my opinion, it's a good idea," she said.

She and her husband own two rental properties in the area, an apartment building at 316 N. Fountain and a duplex at 14 N. Fountain.

Windisch said she doesn't understand the reservations of other property owners.

"I know it's about this historical business," she said. "But you can't keep things forever. This is progress. And progress of any type would be good for Cape Girardeau."

C. Andy Juden Jr. and his wife Jeanette have been trying to sell their turn-of-the-century brick house at the corner of Independence and Lorimier for a couple of years.

"I see it as a way to sell the house," said Juden. "Sometimes something has to be given up for the public good."

Charles Bixler owns Clark Wheel Alignment at 430 Independence.

At age 62, Bixler said he would readily sell the property and maybe even retire. Bixler said the block might be the most economical for the government to buy.

Janie Meyer, who operates the Montessori School at 418 Independence across from City Hall, likes her current surroundings.

But she said she would sell if the price is right.

So would Bill Dockins who owns Dockins Valuation Co. at 429 Themis.

Carolyn Ann Rouviere lives and operates her beauty shop in an old house at 312 Independence.

She remains neutral about selling her property to the government.

"I love my old house and I love living downtown." But she said a new courthouse would be good for downtown Cape.