FEDERAL COURTHOUSE SITE SPURS INTEREST

Plans to build a new federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau has stirred up considerable interest. The General Services Administration plans to spend in the neighborhood of $14 million for the five-story building complete with ample parking. What has caught the most attention isn't the fact that a major federal facility will be built. Rather, it is the location of the proposed courthouse that is being discussed most.

The GSA has defined a 15-square-block downtown area in which it wants to find a suitable location. High on the suitability list for the government is to find a workable site with a willing seller or group of sellers. The GSA has made it abundantly clear it isn't interested in hornet's nests or even using its power of eminent domain.

There are, it seems, plenty of willing sellers in the defined area, which is basically between Broadway and Independence within five blocks of Main Street. There also are plenty of questions. And, as could be expected, preservationists are girding for whatever battles are necessary to keep the federal government from razing any of the historic structures in the downtown area, which contains most of what is left of the city's early history.

All of the talk about the new federal courthouse has sparked some questions. Among those most frequently asked:

-- Why does the new courthouse have to be downtown? Presidents since Jimmy Carter have insisted on downtown locations. Cities across the country are all subject to suburban development, often leaving the downtown areas with shuttered storefronts and empty office buildings. The placement of federal buildings, which tend to be major employers, in the downtown core was seen as a way of providing an anchor for those areas. Federal buildings constructed in recent years in Springfield, Mo., and Topeka, Kan. -- as well as Oklahoma City -- are examples. The new federal building in St. Louis is being built downtown.

-- What about historic buildings? In larger cities downtown buildings tend to be larger -- and, in many cases, newer -- buildings. When the federal government locates a new building there, the razed buildings tend not to have significant historic ties. In Cape Girardeau, however, the downtown area is the oldest area of the city, thanks to the important role of the Mississippi River and the riverfront in the town's development. Although many historic buildings already have disappeared, there is a renewed interest now in preserving what remains of the old homes in the downtown area.

-- Why not tear down the empty Marquette Hotel? This seems like a logical spot. It is across the street from the existing courthouse, and the federal government appears interested in keeping the new building close to the old building. Because of the parking needs of the new building, however, the Marquette site isn't big enough, which means additional space would be needed. The federal government would consider a package deal, but such an arrangement very likely would be divided by a street. This isn't an insurmountable problem, but the feds are almost certain to get offers for sites with fewer problems.

-- Doesn't it make more sense to put the new building near the interstate? That certainly is an area of rapid development. There is no arguing with the fact that the interstate and the resulting development along that corridor would seem to make the west side a good location for a major new office building. But the federal government is sticking to its policy on locating its buildings in downtown areas.

-- Why do we need another federal building? In an era of downsizing, the federal government continues to have growing space needs. In part, the situation in Cape Girardeau is that the city has grown increasingly important to the many federal services that serve the public. The city's location and its appeal as a regional trade center make Cape Girardeau a natural location for the growing workload of federal courts and other agencies. Since the existing courthouse was built in the 1960s, there has been a huge expansion in the investigation, apprehension and court proceedings for individuals involved in federal criminal cases, not to mention a healthy spurt in civil lawsuits.

-- Will everyone be happy with the GSA's decision? It certainly appears the federal government will have plenty of choices for a new building site. GSA officials have made it clear they have no desire to get involved in any imbroglio over historic preservation, nor do they want to obtain a site through condemnation. Given the offers received by the GSA so far -- more than two dozen -- that shouldn't be a problem.

As for the future of the city's downtown, the new federal building will be a major investment in an area that is trying hard -- and with considerable success -- to remain vital and strong. Future plans for a riverboat casino, along with the restoration of old homes and the continued appeal of restaurants and shops in the downtown area, promise a bright future.