Dilapidated Saint John building being turned into apartments

From the front, 161 to 163 Germain St. in Saint John looks like any other of the brick or sandstone-faced heritage buildings in the city's uptown.

But the side of the building suspends the illusion of grandeur. There are boards or empty space where windows should be.

The roof is falling in, and one wall has been reduced to a pile of bricks by water damage, leaving a gaping hole in the building's second storey.

To most, it would seem hopeless. But owner Paul Daeres is committed to fixing the exterior damage and renovating the interior.

"Oh, it'll be a big job, but it needs to be done," he said. "It's going to be done, whatever it takes."

The exterior work is expected to take five to six months, and then crewswill begin work on the inside.

'Germain Street was my first home'

Daeres's reasons for wanting to restore the building are partly practical, partly sentimental.

He has three adult children, and he hopes that if he builds apartment buildings for them, they will return to live in the city.

Besides,he lives in the building next door and doesn't want the place next to his to be an eyesore.

"All my life, since I've come to Canada, Germain Street was my first home," he said, "and I live there and die here. "I try to make it as nice as possible, that's all I can do."

Daeres has already fixed up the front of the building, taking the stones down, numbering them and replacing them one by one.

He said that before now, he simply didn't have time to renovate the rest of the building, even though he has owned the property for over 30 years.

Parking lot infamy

Daeres gained notoriety in the city when the Paramount theatre, which he owned, was demolished and turned into a parking lot.

Many believed the Paramount could be saved, but Daeres insists that it wasn't the case. He said the land was too sloped to do anything with the building, and without a tenant, he couldn't afford to keep it up.

The lot is now a parking lot.

He and his family have also been in court for operating a number of illegal parking lots around the city, including the lot right next to the building that is being renovated.

Daeres says the lot is no longer being used as a parking lot, and he has plans to build there as well to complete the neighbourhood.

"I've lived next door for 50 years, the attached building next door, so I like the building. and I just want to fix it the best way possible," he said.

The building will be turned into four to six apartment units. The architectural plans have not yet been finalized.