The provincial government has not yet decided what it is going to do with a derelict building and land next to the War Memorial in downtown St. John’s.

Several years ago the Liberal government bought the land for $2.3 million, with the intention of turning it into an extension of the site.

It includes the former Roebothan McKay Marshall law firm property as well as the abandoned former Breakwater Books building.

At the time, then-cabinet minister John Abbott floated around the idea of it being turned into some type of an interpretation centre.

Infrastructure minister Barry Petten says they have received an environmental assessment for the site, and government is considering its options.

He says the price would vary depending on what they choose to do.

He says they could tear the building down for $1 million. They could also restore the building and make it usable again, but that would cost around $9 million, and that price tag would only include structural work and nothing else. Overall, he believes it would cost about $20 million to do anything “reasonable” with the site.

Petten says they have heard from advocates, historians, and heritage groups about what they would like to see done.

“I think deep down we all would like to see something done there,” says Petten, but they need to figure out how they are going to do it. He says they are in the early stages right now, and cannot commit to anything.