THORNGATE BUYS CHAFFEE LOTS

CHAFFEE -- Mayor Ron Moyers has signed a contract for the sale of two lots on North Main Street to Thorngate Ltd.

The agreement follows months of discussion between the city, Thorngate and its parent company, Hart Schaffner & Marx of Chicago.

The city originally had tried to sell the lots to S&W Cabinets, a local business, and Darrell J. and Virginia L. Miller, rural Chaffee residents who own Faust Machine Shop in Cape Girardeau.

Thorngate stepped into the deal when it exercised an option to purchase the lots at the announced price. Thorngate had the option in its lease with the city on a warehouse that the company rents for storage of finished goods. The warehouse is between the two lots.

City officials asked Thorngate last summer to reconsider the exercise of its option, because the proposed two buyers were planning to bring additional employment to the area. But Albert F. Bergschneider, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Hart Schaffner & Marx, replied in a letter that the company needs "the property so we are in a position to meet future requirements for additional space adjacent to our building."

Bergschneider wrote that Thorngate appreciated Chaffee's efforts to increase employment, but Thorngate was also hiring people to meet additional manufacturing requirements here.

"We need to be certain that we can provide the necessary space to accommodate our plans if required in the future," Bergschneder said in his letter.

The lots, both 150 feet deep from the street, adjoin the Thorngate warehouse on the north and south sides.

The northern lot is approximately 298 feet long, about 1.02 acres, and is being sold for $2,500. The southern lot is approximately 252 feet long, about nine-tenths of an acre, and is being sold for $2,000.