COURTHOUSE SITE

Extreme cold and a blanket of snow and ice canceled most activities last Thursday night. But a hearing scheduled that frigid night regarding a potential site for the proposed federal courthouse drew a respectable crowd of about 170 interested participants.

Those attending were pleased to hear that General Services Administration officials will back away from their two preferred downtown sites due to public outcry over the loss of historic buildings.

As the GSA turns its attention to other potential sites, it should expand its thinking outside the limited area in downtown Cape Girardeau. The government should consider all potential sites throughout the community, using commonsense yardsticks such as cost and accessibility. Any business planning to construct a new building would closely compare costs. The government should be no different. All potential sites should be ranked by cost, with a list of all the benefits and disadvantages. The government cannot operate blindly with an open checkbook.

The GSA has said the new courthouse should be built within walking distance of the current federal courthouse on Broadway in the downtown area.

Why?

Getting anywhere in Cape Girardeau, even at rush hour, takes only a matter of minutes. Surely a slight commute would be worth saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in site acquisition. Cape Girardeau County is a good example with two courthouses in two different towns. It is not always convenient, but the court system operates efficiently and effectively between Jackson and Cape Girardeau.

It is understandable that the GSA would want to house court-related offices in the same building. But there is no reason that many other federal offices -- such as Social Security or congressional offices -- couldn't remain in the current federal building.

Among the sites outside the downtown district that was defined by city hall at the request of the GSA are the old St. Francis Hospital site proposed by Haarig area businessmen, the Happy Hollow area adjacent to city hall as well as other sites nearer to I-55.

The old hospital, for example, is an eyesore and fraught with dangers to young trespassers. It hasn't been used since the mid-1980s when it housed Southeast Missouri State University students. It was bought by a Texas developer in 1988, but his plans for senior citizen housing fell through due to code compliance problems.

It has been estimated that the GSA could purchase the entire block for $34,000. By comparison, a single structure would exceed that price in most other sites. The price may also be much less at the Happy Hollow site or other locations where the land is vacant.

Haarig businessmen, in the Good Hope and Sprigg streets neighborhood, make a compelling argument that shouldn't be dismissed just because they are beyond the six-block limit. That area could use an economic boost. Other efforts in the area include the Salvation Army's new building, plans to turn the old St. Vincent's Seminary into a park and cultural center plus the development of the new Highway 74 access for the planned new bridge over the Mississippi River.

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce has appointed a committee to study federal courthouse sites as well. The more input the better. This courthouse represents a major investment by the federal government. Taxpayers should help ensure its placement represents the wisest use of tax dollars.