THE PUBLIC MIND: HISTORICAL SOCIETY LEADER OPPOSES DEMOLITION OF FORMER BANK

Dear Editor:

I do not support the demolition of the former Farmers and Merchant's Bank on the corner of Good Hope Street and Sprigg Street for the following reasons:

1. The building has reached an age which very few buildings of any importance in Cape Girardeau have been allowed to reach. I believe it is time we stopped demolishing these treasures and began to carefully guard them. When I travel along Spanish Street, I give thanks for those who were foresighted enough to protest the proposed demolition of the Common Pleas Courthouse. We have learned to scorn those who wanted it gone I believe we will come to scorn those who were responsible for the disappearance of the bank building, if that comes to pass.

2. This building is an architectural style is unique in the city. If we allow it to be destroyed, then we have allowed the passing of an era modern building costs would prohibit this type of style.

3. It is time we started using better stewardship of our resources. What happens when we demolish a building? Two things: the materials go to already scarce landfills, and more natural resources are consumed for the new construction. Ours is a generation quite educated about environmental concerns. We simply cannot stand by and sanction such waste.

4. Each time we destroy a building of this magnitude, we are destroying the fabric of the neighborhood. As someone who lives in the neighborhood (to the south) and owns real estate in the neighborhood (to the east), I know that this is a step backward which will affect the business and homes, leading to more blighting which we are working so hard to halt and to overcome. Putting slick new construction and a corner parking lot on this block would be like marketing pictures of George Washington in a leisure suit.

5. Compared to the proposed new construction and its costs, the cost of rehabbing the existing building for the Salvation Army's use seems reasonable.

6. I have a concern about the fact that the existing building has not had proper regular maintenance. If the Salvation Army could not at least paint window frames in the time it has occupied the building, how will it be able to afford to keep up the new building? This becomes even harder to figure when one factors in the fact that this building was a gift to the Salvation Army, and therefore rent or building payments were not required in the budget. Even new buildings require constant upkeep and supervisions; where will this come in the budget?

7. The question has arisen as to why those of us opposed to the demolition of the existing building have not said anything until now. I was aware of the announced campaign a year ago, and the subsequent negative calls to Speak Out, but had not heard anything since that time. I simply figured the campaign had been a failure and that the point was moot.

8. Please do some research on what constitutes "historic." It is not necessary that George Washington slept in a building for it to have historic significance.

I am president of the Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau. I have heard from many of our members who are quite opposed to the demolition of the Salvation Army building.

I believe there has to be better and more creative way for the Salvation Army to operate within this neighborhood. If not, I would encourage the organization to look for another place to build.

Doris Dace

Property owner and resident

of Cape Girardeau