REBIRTH OF DOWNTOWN PAYS OFF FOR ENTIRE CITY

A decade ago, Cape Girardeau's downtown was faltering. Plagued by empty store fronts, the merchants devised a plan to revitalize Cape Girardeau's historic business district. In 1984, the Cape Girardeau City Council approved the final redevelopment plan, and this extraordinary undertaking began in earnest. Downtown merchants can feel proud of their accomplishments. The transformation has been remarkable, and redevelopment efforts are continuing.

With specialty shops, unique restaurants and art galleries, the downtown area has become a retail and entertainment hub. These new enterprises augment the many established businesses of downtown. History meets today on street after street of this business district.

These changes have come about through taxpayer expense but not the public's. These businesses have taxed themselves to bring about a number of improvements, including an ornate street clock, an open air market, old-fashioned street lamps and benches, banners and extended brick curb cuts. Many historic buildings have been renovated, and many of the empty store fronts have been filled.

Ten years ago, Charles Hutson, president of the Cape Girardeau Redevelopment Corp., told the city council of a strong commitment to the project on the part of downtown merchants. That pledge has certainly been realized.

That's not to say stores haven't closed. Economic slowdowns have hit all areas of town. But new faces have followed disappointments. These merchants have remained steadfast in their support of downtown, and it has paid off.

Only a few store fronts are now vacant along Main Street, and a new book store is planned for one of those. A new restaurant with outdoor dining is proposed near the Independence and Spanish intersection in early summer. And negotiations are under way for the old Buckner Ragsdale building. Work is also progressing on the Alliance Building on South Spanish, which will house a number of artisans, craftsmen and furniture fabrication arts. A number of specialty gift shops including a number of antique shops have built on the historic foundation downtown.

Downtown has not only regenerated business, but its residential areas as well. Historic homes have been renovated, and several luxury apartments have been refurbished.

The river draws tourists and residents to our historic downtown, and enterprising merchants have capitalized on that attraction. The slowdown that hit our downtown was certainly not unique to Cape Girardeau. River towns up and down the Mississippi and Ohio have worked to regenerate downtown districts, but few have been as successful as Cape Girardeau. That's a tribute to the longtime merchants who were committed to this project, and the new businesses who gave downtown a chance. Together, these people are making a difference in Cape Girardeau's historic downtown and in the city as a whole. As downtown prospers, so do we all.