CITY SEEK SOLUTION ON RISKY BUILDINGS

Condemnation and demolition of the old St. Francis hospital building and Marquette Hotel in Cape Girardeau could cost the city more than $600,000, according to estimates solicited by City Manager J. Ronald Fischer.

But the city manager told the City Council Monday that a new, city dangerous-buildings law could defray some of the demolition expense for the dilapidated buildings.

City Councilman Al Spradling III said, regardless of the costs, the condition of abandoned and run-down buildings like the old hospital and hotel is a public safety risk.

"At what point do we decide to continue to let these buildings dilapidate, or take steps to have them torn down?" Spradling said. "I think somewhere down the line we might as well put some money away for tearing down these old buildings.

"I know costs are there, but we have to reach a point in time where the cost is compared with the safety and welfare of the citizens of the community."

The City Council Monday gave final approval to a law that allows the city to charge property owners for demolition costs. The council Sept. 16 urged the city staff to amend the old dangerous-buildings ordinance and research whether civil action can be taken against such property owners.

The council action came after discussion of the condition of the former St. Francis hospital building at Good Hope and South Pacific.

At the Sept. 16 council meeting, Spradling said that by taking steps to secure the former hospital site, the city is now liable for maintaining the vacant structure's safety.

Other council members also said they would rather incur the expense of condemning the poorly secured, often-vandalized building than risk perhaps a costlier lawsuit from someone being injured at the site.

City officials have said the old hospital site has been a security problem for years. The property's owner, Peter Kern of Denton, Texas, has refused to maintain the site, which prompted city officials to attempt to secure the building, city officials said.

Fischer said Monday that the city's most recent security measures at the building are "holding up" well. But he said attempts to contact Kern about the situation have been fruitless.

The city manager said a contractor has estimated the demolition costs for the old hospital building would be $180,000 to $200,000, with an additional cost of $190,000 to $230,000 for asbestos removal.

Fischer said demolition of the Marquette Hotel would exceed $170,000 and could be more if asbestos is found at the site. The hotel is owned by Thad Bullock of Cape Girardeau.

Spradling said the Marquette Hotel on Broadway might have marketable qualities that a potential buyer might want. He asked Fischer if the Federal Building, situated across the street from the old hotel, would be interested in the hotel's lot for parking purposes.

Fischer said he's discussed that option with federal building officials, but didn't say if they were interested. He said there might be funding incentives through state grant programs to help such a proposal.

"Maybe something like that through a neighborhood assistance program or some type of grant program we can approach them with that proposal," he said.

Fischer said it's possible the properties could be acquired through eminent domain procedures for the public benefit instead of through condemnation.

"We've got a pretty good sized turkey out there to try to bite off, but we're aware of the problem," he said.

Spradling said it's time to look to what can be done with the site before there is some type of accident. "We need to take adequate steps to guarantee the legality and set a time-line to get these things done," he said.