The City of Brandon and the Brandon Downtown Development Corporation will initiate a new procurement process later this year with an updated plan for a major parcel of land in downtown Brandon.
The City of Brandon and Brandon Downtown Development Corporation (BDDC) started a process approximately a decade ago to assemble land at the corner of 10th Street and Princess Avenue with the goal of establishing a major mixed-use development in the heart of the downtown that brings people downtown to live, work and enjoy leisure time.
Brandon University (BU) took a leading role in 2014 with the goal of establishing a downtown campus at the site. BU undertook multiple public engagement processes and prepared a feasibility study (finalized in 2018) to explore options to develop the 70,000 sq. ft (6,500 sq. m) site.
(Image – City of Brandon)
Following the feasibility study, BU led a process supported by the City and BDDC to gauge private sector interest in developing the site. Although private sector interest was received, the process was ultimately unsuccessful in finding a private sector lead to develop the site.
As agreed by the partners, all lands currently owned by BU as part of the downtown development site will be transferred to BDDC and the City. A new procurement process will be initiated in late fall/early winter of 2021 to gauge private sector interest in developing the site under an updated scope.
Although roles and priorities have changed since BU’s original proposal process, the City, BDDC, and BU remain committed to finding a private sector lead to develop a transformational project for the downtown.
