Lister Block receives much needed funding

Hamilton's famous downtown eyesore the Lister Block has been under a dark cloud of pessimism for more than a decade. The plywood boards covering the grand buildings history from prying eyes have become home for every poster hanger and pigeon in the city. The gloom surrounding the building is so thick the only ones enjoying the site are the reported "spirits" from times past that are said to roam the interiors.

Some of the stale air was lifted yesterday, when Premier Dalton McGuinty made yet another election-campaign stop here to announce that the provincial government will give Hamilton $7 million toward redevelopment of the decaying landmark. The money will allow the city to relocate the public health department to the Lister, becoming an anchor tenant for phase one of the revitalization project.

The Liberal team insists this isn't an election scheme to buy support in a strategically important region where several key Liberal MPPs are stepping down, and their seats will be hotly contested. And if you believe that fish tale, you will buy that City Hall is a cute fixer upper that just needs a little paint.

Political "jockey shorts" adjusting aside, this is some welcoming news for Hamilton. There's no denying the Lister's symbolic and practical value to core revitalization. The salvaged relic will bring much needed rejuvenation to the campaign. This project is the start of Hamilton's field of dreams, build a keystone and the rest of the puzzle will fall into place.

Unless the current city council blows it that is. Now is not the time for squabbling and heel dragging, lets sit down and nail down all the loose ends and get this happening. The money is now available, and the developers are eager. So are neighbouring businesses and residents who've lived next door to a rotting hulk for too long. One owner of a coffee shop even showed off her "Lister Block Happy Dance" on the evening news, hopefully more business owners and customers alike will break out their dancing shoes.

God knows, Hamiltonian's are ready to see the scaffolding go up around the Lister and other key buildings in the downtown, cheers to our future!

Later,
Kenaz http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping