NEIGHBORHOOD SEEKS TO KEEP IDENTITY

Cape Girardeau is full of lovely, well-maintained residential areas. Many of these neighborhoods have that settled, established look that comes with gracious homes, mature trees and lovingly tended yards full of green lawns and bright flowers.

One such neighborhood is between Capaha Park and the campus of Southeast Missouri State University generally along Normal Avenue, Park Avenue and West End Boulevard. For several decades, these homes, for the most part, have been single-family dwellings in an area that showed its pride by the way the homes and yards were kept up. At some point, however, the zoning for the area was changed to multiple-family residential from single-family residential.

As with any area around a university, there is always more and more demand for student housing. As homes are converted to accommodate apartment units, neighborhoods that were once single-family havens become high-density pockets of apartments. In recent years, a few of the houses in the Normal-Park-West End neighborhood had been converted to apartments. One of the houses became a fraternity house.

Looking to the future, several property owners individually have made requests recently for zoning changes, back to single-family residential, in an effort to preserve the family atmosphere. At the suggestion of Planning and Zoning commissioners, a blanket petition for the entire area -- signed by the owners of 18 parcels of property -- was submitted. The P&Z Commission has recommended approval of the request. The final decision will be made by the City Council.

Too often, it is easier to complain about such things as changing neighborhoods without addressing the problem directly and seeking a positive outcome. In this case, however, proud property owners have taken the initiative to secure the future of this neighborhood for years to come.

Because most of the neighborhood already consists of single-family dwellings, there won't be any drastic changes in the landscape. If the City Council approves the zoning request, however, property owners will have a bit of official incentive to maintain their homes and make improvements that will have an overall benefit for the area.

Homes in the area that have been converted to multiple-family use won't be affected by the zoning change.

All in all, the neighbors who have invested in the area and want to see it remain one of Cape Girardeau's fine residential locations are to be commended for taking positive action.