A long-time resident of downtown St. John’s who advocates for improved services and supports is disappointed that the provincial government has sold off a property on Livingstone Street instead of considering it for a community centre.

The 4-unit house, which was owned by Newfoundland and Labrador Housing, went up in flames a little over a year ago. Government recently sold it for $120,000.

Mark Wilson sees the whole exercise as backwards as government gave the help group THRIVE $70,000 to collect information on the concept and location of a community centre in the area. The burned-out house on Livingstone was seen as the preferred site for such a facility.

Wilson says the sale doesn’t make sense.

He says the facility would help improve the mental and physical health of people in the neighborhood, and ultimately provide a better living standard for people – which will cost government less in the long run.