The Globe and Mail

Jim Spatz knows he has adopted the "ugly duckling" -- his Halifax-based Southwest Properties last year paid $9.9-million for the most reviled building in St. John's historic downtown core. Even before construction finished on Atlantic Place in the early 1970s, the eight-storey office tower was hated by residents for cutting off the view of the harbour and throwing a long shadow down on Water Street -- not to mention that the brown brick building is just plain old everyday ugly. "And what was it called? Did they call it 'the big brown something'? I don't know if I can say that word," Mr. Spatz said. While others averted their gaze and investment from the 360,000-square-foot architectural dud, Mr. Spatz moved in nine months ago with plans for a $3-million renovation of Atlantic Place and a vision for a new anchor in the port city's downtown.