DOWNTOWN BUSTLING WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION

Downtown Cape Girardeau is taking on a new business look.

Construction activity is taking place at a structure at 1 S. Main, which currently houses Plant Lady, and will soon be home to Plant Lady, Capaha Bank corporate offices and Benchmark Construction offices.

The Plaza Tire Building has been purchased by Pam Abercrombie, vice president of Capaha Bank.

"We've leased space to Capaha Bank, Plant Lady and Benchmark," said Abercrombie.

Currently, the bank's space, about 3,500 square feet, will be utilized as corporate offices of the bank, which has facilities at 3168 William in Cape Girardeau, Second and Russell Streets in Tamms,Ill. and 2801 Sycamore in Cairo, Ill.

Some Capaha Bank bookkeeping will be conducted at the downtown location. Other services current services will include a deposit services for businesses, and an ATM Machine.

The Plant Lady will be moved to another location in the building.

The immediate downtown area has been without banking services since the closure of the NationsBank facility 100 N. Broadway in early June.

Eventually, the downtown banking operation could turn into a full-service operation.

Also under construction is a conservatory-type facility atop the building.

Access will be available to townspeople who want to observe the river from the top of the building, said Abercrombie.

Another downtown venture is that of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, which is moving its Gallery 100 facility to a former art gallery at the southeast corner of Spanish and Independence Streets.

The structure previously housed a gallery owned by Cape Girardeau architect and artist John Boardman and his wife, Evelyn. The building also served as home to an antique gallery, and most recently a dancing studio.