Your government spent $2.3M on an "eyesore." Seriously?

Deirdre Molloy-Waddleton here, whaddya at, b'y — this is St. John's, oldest city in North America, and we're still here. Let's go.

### This old building is really grindin' their gears

I'll tell ya one thing, b'y, I nearly choked on my tea this morning when I heard what Infrastructure Minister Barry Petten had to say about that big ol' "eyesore" building right next to our War Memorial downtown. You know the one I'm talkin' about — 100 Water Street. It's been sittin' there lookin' like it's seen better days, and now the government's gone and spent a whopping $2.3 million to buy it up, only for the minister to come out and call it an "eyesore." I mean, seriously? Two years they've had it, and now it's an eyesore? Sounds like a classic St. John's problem to me, b'y.

It's a prime spot, mind you, right there on Water Street, da oldest commercial street in North America, practically spitting distance from da Rooms and overlooking da Narrows. You'd think for $2.3 million, dey'd have a grand plan, wouldn't ya? Instead, it's just sittin' there, a big ol' reminder of how sometimes, even wit' da best intentions, things can just... fester. It's not just about da building itself, b'y, it's about what it represents for our city's core. We want our downtown lookin' its best, especially wit' da War Memorial right there, a place of such importance and respect.

#### What This Means for St. John's

* **Downtown Revitalization:** This building's future is a big part of how we see Water Street developing. Will it be fixed up or torn down? * **Government Spending:** Folks around here are gonna be wonderin' why it took two years and a minister callin' it an "eyesore" for somethin' to happen after spending all dat money. * **City Image:** Right next to a national monument, this property's state affects how visitors and locals alike view our historic downtown.

I'll tell ya, b'y, it's a real head-scratcher. We're a city that prides itself on its history and its beauty, from da colourful Jellybean Row houses to da majestic Signal Hill. To have a building like that, in such a critical location, just standin' there, well, it just ain't right. It's time for some action, not just talk about eyesores. We deserve better for our downtown, b'y.

Deirdre Molloy-Waddleton, MiTL Sports Desk, St. John's.

You can hear all da chatter about dis and more every mornin' wit' da lads at mornings.live, go have a listen, b'y!