West Park Mall redevelopment main topic of conversation at Cape Council meeting

The Cape Girardeau City Council approved two ordinances concerning the West Park Mall redevelopment Tuesday, Sept. 3, with one of the ordinances dating back to nearly a year ago.

The council approved a second and third reading of an ordinance reimbursing the costs through the adopted tax increment financing for Redevelopment Project Area 1 (RPA1) of the River City Centre Tax Increment Redevelopment Area for the project. The first reading of this ordinance was approved Sept. 18.

According to the agenda report, RPA1 is a 13.14-acre tract and refers to the old Macy's wing of the West Park Mall. The council approved the ordinance by a vote of 5 to 1 with Ward 2 Councilwoman Tameka Randle voting “no” and Ward 6 Councilman Mark Bliss being absent.

The council also approved the second and third readings of an ordinance allowing the Cape Girardeau County Industrial Development Authority Board (IDA) to issue bonds supporting the West Park Mall redevelopment project, which the city approved the first reading Monday, Aug. 19. The members voted 5 to 1, with Randle voting “no” and Bliss absent.

Ward 5 Councilman Rhett Pierce added to his “yes” vote on both ordinances by saying after taking a tour of the construction being done to West Park Mall, he can see they're doing "good work."

"I've seen some thick concrete being poured and some good steel structures being built, and a lot of good stuff happening out there," Pierce said. "I think they're doing a great job."

Ward 4 Councilman David Cantrell also went with Pierce on the tour and Cantrell said he appreciated being able to get a better idea of what's going on with the construction.