FOCUSING ON HAPPY HOLLOW

If a new federal judge is appointed, he or she would probably hold court in a new federal courthouse.

The site of that courthouse has been somewhat controversial. Property owners don't want historic buildings destroyed. Different business groups want the courthouse in their neighborhoods as a way to spur traffic and development.

The Happy Hollow site just west of the Cape Girardeau City Hall has become a leading site. It seems to be a good compromise site for the project.

The General Services Administration has acted responsibly in focusing on the Happy Hollow site in an effort to meet its courthouse needs and those of the community.

Government bureaucrats are often accused of turning a deaf ear to the public. In this case, it would appear they listened.

One group of businessmen had been pushing the old St. Francis Hospital site. Downtown merchants had promoted the 400 block of Broadway. But both groups indicated they would support the Happy Hollow site.

That site would be conveniently located to city hall and would be just a couple of blocks from the current courthouse. Access will be improved when the new Highway 74-Mississippi River bridge route is completed just a few blocks to the south.

Location of the courthouse would help transform the former dump site. Soil tests will have to determine if there any pollution or soil problems.

The site is ideal in that no large buildings would have to be demolished. However, the government must determine if a Union Electric substation must be moved and how much that would cost.

It seems a good use for an area that has been a chronic eyesore. Years ago, it was infested with rats and littered with garage.

Design funding for the $30 million courthouse project was included in President Clinton's budget for fiscal 1998. Under the current schedule, construction of a new courthouse could begin in fiscal 2000.