The Tribune

THE owner of a vacant lot next to the East Bay Shopping Centre is refusing to clear what is being described as an “eyesore” and a “flea market” from the premises, despite the complaints of property managers, tenants, clients and tourists.

The vacant lot, which houses a haphazard assortment of wooden beams and a ragged tarpaulin extension, is located opposite the Paradise Island Bridge.

One concerned citizen told The Tribune she is “ashamed” that tourists see this “eyesore” when they leave the bridge.

The lot is owned by the proprietor of a clothing store located in adjacent shopping centre. The shop owner began construction of the structure in 2014, much to the annoyance of his neighbours.

An area store manager told The Tribune: “Everyone feels pretty negatively about it. It’s not the most attractive thing. It kind of looks broken down.

“I think if it was kept differently or arranged differently, it would be better for everybody in the surrounding areas. But (unfortunately) a lot of times, that’s the only thing we can use as a landmark.

“We have to (tell clients): ‘you know that broken down-looking place with the fences and stuff that are kind of in disrepair?’

“I don’t think it’s the best first impression for this plaza, but there’s only so much we can do.”

She continued: “We don’t like it, but unfortunately we just rent, so there’s not a lot that we can do under the circumstances.”

Meridian Law Chambers is also located in the plaza. Partner Dywan Rodgers told The Tribune: “I know there’s been several complaints about that eyesore, considering that here in this plaza the rent is kept quite sizeable.

“But unfortunately, I think he actually owns that particular unit, and that’s why they haven’t been able to do anything with him.

“I know there’s been complaints from everybody in here. I know Morley Realty, which deals with the overall up-keep of this plaza, (has) spoken to (the store owner) on several occasions.

“In fact, he used to have derelict cars out there, and they finally got him to move those. But I don’t know what kind of unsightly thing he’s trying to do out there.

“And you would figure it affects his business as well. I don’t know why government or whoever hasn’t gotten involved to say ‘Listen, tourists pass this all the time. Why don’t you do something, why don’t you clean it up?’”

When asked if the eyesore affects business for the law firm, Mr Rodgers said: “I wouldn’t say it necessarily affects business, because once you have a client, they come here.

“But at the same time, it detracts from the aesthetic of the buildings and the beauty of the place. No matter how much we pay to clean up (inside), that (eyesore) is still the first thing you see.”

Mr Rodgers has also had foreign clients comment on the structure. He said: “Most people don’t really pay attention to it, I guess since it’s not (our company’s) structure, but foreign clients have come in here and said, ‘what’s going on in the front there?’”

Morley Realty also spoke with The Tribune about the matter. Broker David Morley detailed the plaza’s history with the eyesore.

He said: “Well it has nothing to do with East Bay Shopping Centre at all, first and foremost. That vacant lot on the corner is owned by a third party.

“...It’s not in keeping with what the rest of the area looks like. We’ve been trying to pursue him to get it cleaned up and to make it look presentable, and as can you can see we’ve gotten nowhere.

“We’ve reached out to the Department of Environmental Health, as it related to the two (derelict) vehicles, and I believe they finally after several years got those removed.

“We’ve referred it to business licencing; we’ve referred it every government agency that we can think of to see if we can get some action by them. Unfortunately, we’ve gotten no luck.”

Mr Morley added: “I hope this story will bring some results, not just for the owners of the EBSC and all the tenants that are in there, but for the immediate area, but everybody who passes by that site multiple times a day.”

The store owner in question refused to comment on the matter despite several attempts by The Tribune to speak to him.

Multiple attempts by The Tribune to get a statement from the Department of Physical Planning were unreturned.

Minister of Works Desmond Bannister told The Tribune: “This looks like a temporary tent that someone forgot to take down. No need for me to make a statement on it.”