Historic buildings

Changes are coming for two buildings in Cape Girardeau listed -- by district or individually -- on the National Register of Historic Places.

This week the demolition of a building at 501 Broadway, purchased this year by Trinity Lutheran Church, began. The 105-year-old building was the former home for an auto-parts store, a mercantile company, SEMO Video and other businesses.

For many the building was best recognized by the large mural on its west side displaying the scripture, "Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it." The mural was commissioned by Trinity with the approval of the previous owner, Bob Cotner.

Trinity purchased the building from Cotner over the summer and recently announced, with the building in disrepair, a decision had been made to demolish the structure. The church's pastor, the Rev. Doug Breite, said the space could potentially be used for green space, parking or both -- though a final decision had not yet been made.

The second building, the old Jefferson School, was recently donated by the previous owners, Guy and Rene Tomasino, to Prodigy Leadership Academy. Prodigy Leadership Academy director and founder Russell Grammer said the 107-year-old building could become a replacement facility for the school at 232 Broadway.

Rehabilitating an old building, especially one that does not have a good basic infrastructure, is an expensive proposition. Just ask Kenny Pincksten. The owner of a 143-year-old building at the corner of Broadway and Sprigg Street is in the midst of that facility's rehabilitation at a cost of $800,000. We're pleased Pincksten has taken the initiative to restore this building for the purpose of retail space and apartments. Preserving history is important to the character and charm of a community, and owners should be praised for maintaining and enhancing historic structures. But not all old buildings can or should be saved.

The building torn down this week owned by Trinity was not in good shape. Its best part was the mural that Trinity itself helped place there.

The challenge for the community -- and, specifically, for building owners -- is not simply a question about whether a building is historic or just old, but when a building is demolished, especially in a historic area, what should replace it? Downtown Cape Girardeau will only deteriorate if buildings are removed and then replaced by sterile concrete or weeds. Not only does this destroy the appeal -- and visual cues -- to walk the street, but it suggests blight and danger.

Our hope is that the church finds a good and creative use for the space, as its leaders have said they will. If parking is what they are looking for, we trust church leaders will create it in an aesthetically appealing way with substantial green space and appropriate lighting.

The old Jefferson School constitutes history in a different way -- and, if at all possible, should be preserved. But doing so is a large order given its deteriorated condition and structural issues. By donating it to the Prodigy Leadership Academy, the Tomasinos are giving it another chance to survive, and they should be commended. But the donation is only a temporary reprieve. The city has properly extended the deadline for fixing the building, but it cannot do so indefinitely.

School leader Grammer has several ideas about what could be done to make the landmark building a thriving facility for learning, but it will take money and effort. Those who want to support the building's historic preservation should contact him. Given the school's mission, management and short but impressive track record, helping to rehabilitate the building represents an opportunity for volunteers and donors to do something they can feel good about. And, it would help save an important piece of Cape Girardeau history.