River Campus could start on terrace project in fall

The new River Campus terrace project could begin this fall with construction of an open-roof pavilion and an asphalt walking trail could be in place by next spring on the former grounds of a Catholic seminary, Southeast Missouri State University officials said Friday.

The project to develop a park-like setting is linked to the university's planned River Campus arts school development on the site overlooking the Mississippi River in Cape Girardeau.

School officials told the River Campus board of managers that the terrace project plans have been scaled back slightly to cut costs. The open-roof pavilion will be prefabricated as opposed to being a custom-designed structure, said Carolyn Figliolo, project management assistant for Southeast's facilities management department.

There will be less grading of the hilly ground, she said.

A parking lot off Aquamsi Street will have nine parking spaces rather than 11, she said. A drop-off spot for tourist buses will be established along Morgan Oak Street rather than Aquamsi Street, Figliolo said.

Construction of the terrace pavilion, parking and a walking trail with benches will cost $290,000, she said.

Coupled with design and engineering work, the entire project will cost about $325,000. A federal grant is paying $260,000 of the cost. The university is paying the remaining $65,000.

'Just not as fancy'

River Campus board member Jerry Ford said the changes won't detract from the scenic project. "You have still kept the integrity of the project," he told university officials. "You still have the same plan, just not as fancy."

The advisory board also discussed plans for the River Campus arts school itself.

Dr. Dennis Holt, vice president of administration and enrollment management, said the university's board of regents hasn't decided whether to expand the seating for the proposed performance hall.

The university currently is looking at building about a 950-seat performance hall. But the regents are looking at the possibility of adding several hundred seats.

Ford said adding seats won't be a problem as long as the university can pay for it and not the city.

The city of Cape Girardeau is committed to providing nearly $9 million of the $36 million project. The rest is coming from the state of Missouri and private donations raised by the university's fund-raising foundation.

Ford cautioned against putting too much seating in the theater, suggesting that would hurt the intimate setting that planners want.

There's also the issue of operating expenses, he said. The university needs to keep heating and cooling costs as economical as possible, said Ford, a city representative on the advisory board.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123