Business owners and residents brainstorm Broadway's future

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Residents and local business leaders put their heads together Monday night to discuss the Broadway Corridor Project.

It marked the first public forum on the DREAM Initiative-funded project.

A workshop allowed for participants to ask questions as well as bounce around possible ideas.

For residents, the meeting was about bringing a new and beautiful rebirth for the once thriving avenue. For business owners, such as Robert Gentry, the focus was on traffic.

"Anytime when you are in the business district, increased traffic gives a business owner the opportunity to increase their business," Gentry said. "Nothing is guaranteed of course, but when there is more flow of traffic when more store fronts are filled opposed to vacant, it creates the appearance of fullness."

While most supported the project, some still voiced concerns such as traffic, parking, and long term maintenance.

One such supporter, Rob Herbst, felt the most pressing issue was that of long term sustainability and upkeep.

"Maintaining it going forward as far as keeping it clean and in good repairs. So often these kinds of projects are built and then five years later you don’t have the maintenance there, but I think they are addressing that and being able to plan it in," Herbst said.

The meeting acted as a data collection mechanism for the three firms hired and tasked with designing the project.

The project will affect the stretch of Broadway spanning from Pacific to Water. It will be bid on in the winter, and completed by Fall of next year.

The meeting was held at the Discovery Playhouse on Broadway in downtown Cape.

Tim Filla, KRCU

Posted in: Broadway renovation,downtown revitalization,DREAM Initiative,Tim Filla