Abandoned Grace hospital nurses' residence to be torn down by end of 2023

A plan is now in place to demolish a notorious eyesore that has stood unused and asbestos-filled for over 20 yearsin the Lemarchant Road area of St. John's.

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Elvis Loveless has vowed since 2021 that the former nurses' residence by the old Grace General Hospital site would be demolished.The building has become a place forgraffiti, pigeons and vandals in the more than two decades since the hospital closed in 2000.

Two years after Loveless's promise, money to fund the demolishing was included in the $7.8 million earmarked to plan for and find land for a replacement to St. Clare's Mercy Hospital, along with a new cardiovascular and stroke institute in St. John's.

"It's been a priority, and I think it's a good day for this province and in particular in the city of St. John's for a lot of reasons," Loveless said Thursday.

"We know that the building is dilapidated and to the point that it needs to be taken down. We're going to do that. It's a promise made is a promise kept, and we're going to deliver on that."

Loveless said a timeline to begin the work hasn't been finalized, but government hopes it will be completed by the end of the year.

The demolitionof the former residence doesn't mean the site has been chosen for a new hospital, he added, saying it's the first step in the process surrounding the land.

"That building needed to come down before any real estate minds would even considerthe land," Loveless said.

"I think we have a best of both worlds. We're going to take down a dilapidated building, we're going to become good neighbours for people surrounding that property. And the property is high value, so we're going to get a great return for the taxpayers."

Business owner in shadow of residence overjoyed with decision

News of the building's demolishing has been a long time coming forRandy Follett, a chiropractor and owner of Lakeview Chiropractic whose building sits in the shadow of the residence building.

"To tell you the truth, I'm absolutely delighted. As a business owner and a property owner," Follett toldOn The GoFriday.

"I'm more delighted for the residents of that part of the city ... who've had to put up with that eyesore, that dilapidated building rotting in place there for two decades."

Follett says the teardown willadd to the beauty of the neighbourhood. While it hasn't been decided what the land will be used for, he hopes it can be used to provide more affordable housing options.

"The possibilities for this part of town now are endless."

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