NEW EFFORTS TO CAPTURE THE RIVER VIEW

Most river cities have a rich history owing to the fact that most of our country's earliest settlements were near dependable sources of water. And a drive through many of these river towns will invariably lead to a neighborhood of Victorian-style homes, often on a bluff with a commanding view of the river.

Cape Girardeau certainly has an enormous share of history, but there are only handful of homes -- not all in the same neighborhood -- with unobstructed views of the Mississippi River. A river view in the City of Roses is much to be desired among those who both love the river and enjoy living where it can be seen.

There have been some interesting developments in recent years that have brought about even more river views. Several spaces over downtown retail establishments -- areas higher than the vital floodwall along the river -- have been turned into charming and functional living quarters. The trade-off for an imposing view is, for the most part, a walk up a flight or two of stairs.

Now another project is well on its way to providing even more high-quality apartments that take advantage of location for a river view. Charles and Judith Hutson have received the go-ahead from the city's Planning & Zoning Commission for rezoning a piece of property on Spanish Street to construct a four-unit apartment building.

The architect for the project is John Boardman, whose renovations of various buildings in the downtown area have resulted in some of the most pleasingly eye-catching spaces to be found. Boardman's style is readily apparent in the clean lines and functional use of whatever space he is working with. He and his wife enjoy their own architectural paradise, which they call home, right in the heart of downtown. The building occupied by the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri is another fine example of Boardman's contribution to making the most of the space at hand.

The Hutsons, of course, have Hutson Furniture Co., a downtown anchor. Their commitment to replacing an old quonset hut and warehouse to make room for the new apartment building with a river view is an example of the innovative development that can, over time, make such an important and significant contribution to the future of entire neighborhood.

There is a lot going on downtown. Efforts to keep the area vibrant while retaining the charm and beauty of the old buildings, plans for Southeast Missouri State University's plans for a River Campus at the former seminary, and construction of the Emerson Memorial Bridge to replace the aging, two-lane bridge -- all hold much promise for Cape Girardeau's future.