Show Me Center will get storage space, patio plaza

Director David Ross says the Show Me Center's storage areas have become like a crammed bedroom closet.

"If you want to get out of the back of it, you have to drag everything out," Ross said. "A lack of storage has always been the Achilles' heel of the Show Me Center."

That's why the center's board of managers has approved a $1.5 million plan that will create 5,600 square feet of storage space as well as a 3,000-square-foot outdoor patio plaza and 2,600 square feet of new office space for Southeast's men's and women's basketball coaches.

Bids went out on the work Monday, and construction could begin as early as December and end in the fall before basketball season begins, Ross said. The work will all be on the north side of the center.

The money will come from Show Me Center and university funds, Ross said.

The matter was voted on by the Cape Girardeau City Council meeting Monday night, even though no city funds are involved. A Multi-Use Center Agreement calls for no major alterations to the building without express written consent of the city.

The Show Me Center was a joint city-university project with the university providing the site and 8/13th of the cost of construction. The city provided $5 million from a bond issue approved by voters in 1983. The university maintains ownership of the multiuse center and is responsible for all costs of operation and maintenance, Ross said.

"We've been trying to get more space for some time," Ross said. "Every four or five years it would come up, and then we'd get bogged down in something else."

The outdoor patio will be right next to the coaches offices, and can be used for receptions, banquets, booster clubs and other functions, Ross said. The coaches have needed new offices for some time.

Marquette's future

In other action, the council discussed the future of the Marquette Hotel, which has been under condemnation proceedings for over a year. The council agreed to give the owner, Ruby Bullock, and her daughter, Carol Bullock, another extension to present a plan on how they will fix up the old hotel.

But they only gave the owners 60 days instead of 90.

"Ninety days seems too long to me," said Mayor Al Spradling III. "We've given them how long now? A year, and they have given us no indication they are going to do anything."

During the 60 days, the city will look at ways of securing the building, such as making sure the roof is safe, windows are boarded up and brickwork is intact. City manager Michael Miller warned that it could be expensive.

Councilman Jay Purcell said that he believes the chances of recouping any of the money the city spends is slim. The cost of tearing down the building has been listed at $1 million, a figure the city says it cannot afford.

"At least we can make it safe," Spradling said.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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