Design options

Tuesday evening more than 100 city residents visited First Presbyterian Church to see an overview of two potential design options for the $1 million downtown streetscape project.

The plan, part of an overall $3.85 million project to improve the Broadway corridor in downtown Cape Girardeau, could go one of two ways.

The first option -- the more traditional of the two -- would add some shade trees, special pavement and pedestrian areas, and the on-street parking would be unaffected. Sidewalk space would remain about eight to 10 feet.

The second option would include much of the above, but the sidewalks on the north side of the street would be widened to create a "pedestrian promenade," which would enable outdoor cafes and seating areas. The additional space also allows for more shade trees, which would help protect businesses who bear the brunt of the sun. A trade-off, though, is that parking would be eliminated on that side of the street, making public parking lots and behind-the-building parking more critical.

In addition to the recent open house, the city took input from the public via the city's website through this past Friday. After a plan is selected for implementation, the final design will be put together to include the public's feedback. Bidding for the project is set for this fall, and the projected completion is set for December 2012.

City planners and downtown leaders deserve praise for coordinating the streetscape beautification with the street and sidewalk improvements via the Transportation Trust Fund. This coordination will allow the funds available to be used most effectively, rather than wasting dollars retrofitting the space after major construction.