NEIGHBORS MEET TO OPPOSE FEDERAL BUILDING SITING

About 75 people jammed into Julie and Jeff Briney's restored Fountain Street house Thursday night to begin an effort to steer the planned federal building away from downtown blocks that contain a number of historic houses.

The area, bounded by North Lorimier, Themis, Middle and Independence streets, is one the General Services Administration is considering for a 72,000-square-foot courthouse.

The GSA has expressed particular interest in the block bounded by North Lorimier, Themis, Fountain and Independence streets, reportedly because the topography allows for underground parking without a large amount of excavation.

Among those attending were Councilman Tom Neumeyer, three members of the Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission, numerous members of the Downtown Neighborhood Association and members of the Sigma Nu fraternity, whose house is in the area.

Both Neumeyer and Historic Preservation Commission Chairman John Schneider said their panels will oppose putting the federal building in blocks occupied by historic residences, though neither body has yet taken a formal position.

"You guys really have something here," Schneider said.

Architect John Boardman, a member of the Downtown Merchants Association board, said his group also wants the GSA to find another site, albeit one that remains downtown.

Jeff Briney said the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce has drafted a letter to U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, opposing the taking of historic houses.

The GSA has not commented on the reaction to its plans except to say it doesn't intend to put a courthouse where it is not wanted.

"They are testing the waters to find out what kind of reaction they get to their number one and two priorities," said Briney, who has spoken with Jim Ogden of the GSA's regional office in Kansas City. "We want to turn their focus someplace else."

Briney said the neighbors need to act now rather than react later. The GSA is due to hold a public hearing on the various proposals for sites in October. It has set a priority of keeping the federal building downtown.

Not everyone who attended the meeting is opposed to selling to the federal government. Buss and Dottie Paar, who live at the corner of Themis and Lorimier streets and have rentals there, said they were told they wouldn't have to pay capital gains taxes if their property is bought by the government.

A Cape Girardeau accountant contacted afterward was unaware of any program that would allow the avoidance of paying capital gains.

The attendees left with a petition to circulate that says the undersigned citizens "are opposed to the forced demolition of any home, whose ownership is unwilling to sell, for the purpose of constructing a new Federal Building in Cape Girardeau, Mo."

The petition also says the area "is rich with historical representations of Pre-Civil War and Victorian-style homes that are an asset to this community and nation. We are requesting the immediate removal from consideration any area containing these homes and further request the General Services Administration to concentrate its effort on locating a more appropriate site."

The petition packet included the names, addresses and phone numbers of state and federal officials to contact, including the GSA's Ogden and President Bill Clinton.