grey building with `42' scrawled on it. "That used to be spick and span, with a nice garden. They used to keep it beautiful.'' It has been derelict for at least seven years since the owners moved away so local youths turned it into a drug den. It sits on St. Monica's Road, in the heart of a once proud neighbourhood near Government House renowned for its friendly community spirit. Former residents who moved out to better things still speak fondly of the area that grew up around St. Monica's Church, which was built in 1907.

Edwin Wilson reminisces: "The St. Monica's building was built by my grandfather and he was the first minister there. It was a neighbourhood that was good to live in, you had the run of every yard. Every door was open to kids and they were lucky to be brought up there. It was a wholesome, clean place for residents, seniors and young people to live and it was a safe environment.'' In the 1960s or 1970s, no one can remember exactly when, it gained a seedy nom de plume which infuriates older residents, but has stuck -- Goodbye to 42nd Street Named after New York's once notorious drug-dealing district, the area became a magnet for dope pushers and criminals from Hamilton who soon sapped the life out of the area.

But now the community is fighting back. Little by little, with help from Government, residents are overseeing improvements to the area in the hope of eventually driving out the drug dealers and reclaiming the streets.

Last month, Works and Engineering staff resurfaced the roads and pavements.

Street lights are quickly repaired when broken, and fences are restored.

Bermuda Telephone Company engineers have been spotted fixing broken lines.

Community activists in the St. Monica's Mission Action Committee are trying to trace the owners of the derelict building with `42' scrawled over it, to ask them to decorate it.

And they are hoping to persuade Government to buy a plot of over-run private land just off St. Monica's Road to convert it into a little neighbourhood park and car park.

They are likely to get a sympathetic hearing, for Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott wants St. Monica's Mission to be a blueprint for the regeneration of other Island neighbourhoods which have been ravaged by social deprivation and drugs.

The idea behind the strategy is simple: pride will return to the area if Government, working with residents, can help keep the physical infrastructure of the community in shape.

"St. Monica's Mission area has a rich history,'' said Mr. Scott. "There are families who have been there for many years, but the assistance from Government in maintaining the area has not always been the best.

"We felt we could win back the community if Government worked in partnership with the residents.

"`We knew there were responsible individuals there, people who cared about the area, but they are challenged by people trafficking in drugs and coming to the area giving it the reputation it didn't deserve and the residents needed help.'' The only shop on St. Monica's Road is a fish shop, rumoured to be among the best on the Island. Swan's Grocery store, which has been closed for years, is about to re-open as a clothes store.

Local MP Ottiwell Simmons explains: "There is nothing here to attract people but drugs. It's the biggest industry in the area.

"The community is worn out, it can't take any more. Our objective is to rid ourselves of the drug trading.'' Pointing to a group of young men sitting on the wall across from the church, he says: "Our only aim is to save the children, not to do anything to discourage them from having a decent life.'' But Mr. Simmons is adamant the youths who are wasting their lives idling away on walls need to take responsibility for themselves and get jobs.

The action committee has teamed up with Family Services to help give parenting advice, and the National Training Board to identify job and training opportunities for the young men. Government is also considering a job creation scheme for the area.

Mr. Simmons said everything will be done to help these young men, but they also need a cold dose of reality.

"There is no way they can see the rest of the world working away and they are sitting around wasting away and thinking there is nothing wrong with them,'' he said.

"These guys need to get out there and into jobs to enhance their community.

We've got all the infrastructure to make this community better, but some people like to step outside and not conform, and they have got to be told to knock it off.'' Although the area has become synonymous with drugs, the community strategy does not involve calling in Police to clear out the dealers.

Mr. Simmons explains: "All we want to do is offer them the choice to be good citizens, and if the Police come, that is a last resort.

"Bit by bit, the area is looking a little bit cleaner, fewer people appear to be hanging around the place as opposed to the crowds of people and lots of disturbances. We are very hopeful that we are seeing the best signs.'' Most of the young men loitering on the wall were reluctant to talk about the changes, but John Davis, 22, thinks they have made an improvement.

"It looks good, they need to keep it clean,'' he said. " They need to paint the buildings to brighten them up.'' Mr. Davis insists the area does not deserve its shady reputation. "It's got a good reputation, there is nothing going on up here. People say bad things, but no one is getting robbed up here.'' When asked by The Royal Gazette what changes they would like Government to make to improve the area, they all answered: "More trash cans''. No one mentioned jobs.

Mr. Dowling, a member of the action committee, gets infuriated by the lackadaisical attitude of some of the youths.

"We are trying to instil pride in these guys to keep it clean. Quite often you get bottles over the place and they come out of the store and drop their trash. It's really annoying.'' Mr. Scott and the members of the action committee are confident the changes are improving life and that the community will soon be able to wave goodbye to its 42nd Street tag.

"Recently after it was raining I saw someone out sweeping the streets and that's when I knew the essence of our plan was a small, but very real, reality.'' he said.

Local hangout: Youths hang around the St. Monica's Mission, in the heart of a once proud neighbourhood near Government House.

Writing on the wall: A derelict house with 42 scrawled on the wall has degenerated into a drug den. Community activists are now trying to trace the owner to get the building renovated.