Well, you're partition scheme is not the best one, but I have "one" suggestion.
1) format /dev/sda1 as ReiserFS/Ext2/3;
2) add such entry into your /etc/fstab
Code:
/dev/sda1 /usr/local reiserfs (or ext3, or ext2) defaults 1 2
Now reboot and you will have 30G more in your /usr/local.
Since most user programs are installed into /usr/local, you'll be fine.
And install apps this way:
Code:
./configure --prefix=/usr/local
make
make install