Mmmm now why would they do that? Our tax dollars now own the all the land between 9th-10th on Princess Ave, as well as the back lots on 9th and 10th.. Just happens to be right next door and backing on to the Strand building.  
 
Are we in the real estate business now? How nice to see our tax increases going towards somebody's dream.

Edited by admin, 2013-01-22 17:36:04. Reason: title update (was previously "City of Brandon (or Ren Brandon?) purchases Brandon Real Estate Board building"

Got a link to the facts there sport.

homeinmanitoba said "Got a link to the facts there sport. "

I don't. Word of mouth from someone directly involved in the chain of events.  
 

This is one of deveryn stories he was working on this week. Tweeted that he had a couple big ones. If true, it would just be another transparent dealing of our current city hall. Not much shocks me anymore as it seems every incident just gets pushed under the rug and off to the next fiasco. No accountability  

When they tear down the hotel that is there, the BREB building will be the only thing there, making that land less desirable to develop that casino the city has been talking about.

that guy said "This is one of deveryn stories he was working on this week. Tweeted that he had a couple big ones. If true, it would just be another transparent dealing of our current city hall. Not much shocks me anymore as it seems every incident just gets pushed under the rug and off to the next fiasco. No accountability   "

my apologies to Deveryn for letting the cat out of the bag first.I just received this info this evening over quite a heated discussion regarding the current Mayor and Council.  
Anybody see anything about this in the council minutes?  

Please regard as rumour for the time being. I'll do a bit of digging to see if I can find out more to confirm if for sure a purchase has been made and if so by who. If anyone reading has info that they can share, please feel free to drop me a note through the contact link at the top of the page.

For the first time in well over a decade, real, positive, change is starting to happen in downtown Brandon. The YMCA expansion, the skate park for the youth, delapitated buildings, bars, and hotels comming down. There is a differnt dynamic and energy emerging. I would suggest keeping an open mind for maybe things are starting to take shape. Like it or not, it's the current administration we have to thank for this. Unless of course you're running for office or know someone who is. Flood. What Flood? I thought it was handled admirably. Vision. Just throwing that out there.

casualobserver said " For the first time in well over a decade, real, positive, change is starting to happen in downtown Brandon. The YMCA expansion, the skate park for the youth, delapitated buildings, bars, and hotels comming down. There is a differnt dynamic and energy emerging. I would suggest keeping an open mind for maybe things are starting to take shape. Like it or not, it's the current administration we have to thank for this. Unless of course you're running for office or know someone who is. Flood. What Flood? I thought it was handled admirably. Vision. Just throwing that out there. "

The skate park was brought in by the Burgess council. Same for the YMCA expansion, which SDH tried to kill and then successfully reduced in size. Same for the tear-down of the Beaubier Hotel.  
 
They're the ones to thank, not SDH and her ten dwarves.  
 
And stop with the spin that SDH saved us from the flood. It was the province (MIT staff) and Brian Kayes that did the haevy lifting. SDH was just there for the photo ops.  
 
What "different and dynamic energy" are you talking about? What vision? The appetite for ever-higher taxes?

If Deveryn got scooped by ebrandon on the BREB office, he'll be pi**ed. Serves him right for bragging about big stories coming. ;-)

lol hopefully they bulldoze the place

Zapuma said "lol hopefully they bulldoze the place "

that's the plan!

is an old gas station. I hope the land isn't contaminated. That will start a ten year episode. Do you think anyone thought to do an enviromental assesment before the purchase?

DeSoto Sam said "is an old gas station. I hope the land isn't contaminated. That will start a ten year episode. Do you think anyone thought to do an enviromental assesment before the purchase? "

the city likes to get those done after the property is in their name!(sarcasm)  

DeSoto Sam said "is an old gas station. I hope the land isn't contaminated. That will start a ten year episode. Do you think anyone thought to do an enviromental assesment before the purchase? "

I do nit ever remember that as a old gas station and I go back away. If it was then the clean up costs and who pays will may be a 10 year fight but the time frame for clean up is not very long.  
 
One thing I found during the August 13 council meeting is there was rubber stamping on some issues involved. One "project" re roads that was approved that Monday was already started the wed/thurs before.  
 
It made me open my eyes a tad. I saw what I saw several days earlier and heard it approved later. Go figure.  
 
As far as assesment?? Probably not. No matter because if they are putting a land package together it will need to be sold/developed. It does seem to me that the city is doing what the Province did in WPG and take a try at being a developer!

SJK are you 100% sure its actually the City? Take this with the requisite grain of salt because it isnt confirmed (I have emails in late last night with a few people that might be able to), but I have heard that it may be Renaissance Brandon that bought the building. If that were the case, Renaissance isnt technically the City of Brandon although there are city funds that go into Renaissance ($250,000 in 2011), two councillors and the Mayor sit on the board and council ultimately chooses the seven other members at large that would be on the board. This would answer the question about council minutes. To my knowledge Renaissance posts annual reports on its website but not minutes/agendas for meetings where I might be able to find more info. They do however post a regular blog. I took a look and don't see any mention yet but maybe it's coming up in this months edition.  
 
If it was in fact Renaissance I'm not sure if we'd be talking the $168,989 purchase that was brought up in the thread below or if it's an additional one (have the details of this purchase been made public yet?):  
http://ebrandon.ca/messagethread.aspx?message_id=597999&cat_id=3  
 
What we do for sure know from the Downtown Hub Secondary Land Use Plan at http://renaissancebrandon.ca/wp-content/uploads/The-HUB-Secondary-Plan_2nd-3rd-Reading.pdf, the real estate board building is a part of a section that Renaissance has identified as a Character Area that would be for entertainment and shopping and the area at the South end of that block that would include this property is indicated as a phase 1 "area of focus." The text below comes from the same document when referring to the entertainment and shopping area and it's purpose:  
 
To establish a unique entertainment and shopping area that builds upon the heritage structures in the area and proposes a pedestrian friendly shopping and dining environment that facilitates and pro- motes a vibrant streetscape.  
 
and later:  
First floor uses in this district shall be prioritized for a mixture of entertainment and specialty shopping uses, such as dance studios, theatres, specialty re- tail, and restaurants/cafes, that encourage pedestri- an movement and interaction. Office/business and residential uses shall be encouraged to locate above the first floor  
 
I noticed this in the 2011 Renaissance annual report.  
Renaissance Brandon contracted a consultant to provide real-time monitoring of “cyberspace” chatter and to respond when appropriate.  
Maybe if they're out there they can chime in?  
 
I'll post if I hear back on the question of whether or not it was Renaissance that has actually purchased (if its for sure been sold?) or is in the process of purchasing the building but at any rate this info gives some insight into the direction that Renaissance has planned on that section of downtown taking.  
 
Side note, this thread is not a general debate on the Mayors term in office...I'd ask that we please stick to the topic of the land purchase that's suggested in the original post. thanks very much

casualobserver said " For the first time in well over a decade, real, positive, change is starting to happen in downtown Brandon. The YMCA expansion, the skate park for the youth, delapitated buildings, bars, and hotels comming down. There is a differnt dynamic and energy emerging. I would suggest keeping an open mind for maybe things are starting to take shape. Like it or not, it's the current administration we have to thank for this. Unless of course you're running for office or know someone who is. Flood. What Flood? I thought it was handled admirably. Vision. Just throwing that out there. "

I find it interesting how the SDH supporters often suggest that the problems faced by this administration are 'baggage' left by past administrations. Yet, the good stuff, the YMCA expansion, the skate park for the youth, dilapidated buildings, bars, and hotels coming down are deemed the work of the SDH administration. All of these works can be attributed, if not wholly, at least in part by past administrations.  
 
There IS a different dynamic emerging in Brandon. An ever growing city workforce, bigger bureaucracy, unprecedented tax hikes. A complete lack of openness and transparency. Out of control city government. Like it or not, it's the current administration we have to thank for this.  
 
As far as the rumour of the BREB building being purchased by the city, perhaps a discrete purchase is the best way to make some real estate deals, but I thought that was on the horizon as soon as the Brandon Inn was taken for taxes. As has already been mentioned, I hope the city has done due diligence before purchasing.

Doug said "    DeSoto Sam said "is an old gas station. I hope the land isn't contaminated. That will start a ten year episode. Do you think anyone thought to do an enviromental assesment before the purchase? " I do nit ever remember that as a old gas station and I go back away. If it was then the clean up costs and who pays will may be a 10 year fight but the time frame for clean up is not very long.     One thing I found during the August 13 council meeting is there was rubber stamping on some issues involved. One "project" re roads that was approved that Monday was already started the wed/thurs before.     It made me open my eyes a tad. I saw what I saw several days earlier and heard it approved later. Go figure.     As far as assesment?? Probably not. No matter because if they are putting a land package together it will need to be sold/developed. It does seem to me that the city is doing what the Province did in WPG and take a try at being a developer! "

This property was definitely a gas/service station in a previous lifetime. I remember going in there when it was. I think as late as 1966,67.

Adam said "SJK are you 100% sure its actually the City? Take this with the requisite grain of salt because it isnt confirmed (I have emails in late last night with a few people that might be able to), but I have heard that it may be Renaissance Brandon that bought the building. If that were the case, Renaissance isnt technically the City of Brandon although there are city funds that go into Renaissance ($250,000 in 2011), two councillors and the Mayor sit on the board and council ultimately chooses the seven other members at large that would be on the board. This would answer the question about council minutes. To my knowledge Renaissance posts annual reports on its website but not minutes/agendas for meetings where I might be able to find more info. They do however post a regular blog. I took a look and don't see any mention yet but maybe it's coming up in this months edition.     If it was in fact Renaissance I'm not sure if we'd be talking the $168,989 purchase that was brought up in the thread below or if it's an additional one (have the details of this purchase been made public yet?):   http://ebrandon.ca/messagethread.aspx?message_id=597999&cat_id=3     What we do for sure know from the Downtown Hub Secondary Land Use Plan at http://renaissancebrandon.ca/wp-content/uploads/The-HUB-Secondary-Plan_2nd-3rd-Reading.pdf, the real estate board building is a part of a section that Renaissance has identified as a Character Area that would be for entertainment and shopping and the area at the South end of that block that would include this property is indicated as a phase 1 "area of focus." The text below comes from the same document when referring to the entertainment and shopping area and it's purpose:     To establish a unique entertainment and shopping area that builds upon the heritage structures in the area and proposes a pedestrian friendly shopping and dining environment that facilitates and pro- motes a vibrant streetscape.     and later:   First floor uses in this district shall be prioritized for a mixture of entertainment and specialty shopping uses, such as dance studios, theatres, specialty re- tail, and restaurants/cafes, that encourage pedestri- an movement and interaction. Office/business and residential uses shall be encouraged to locate above the first floor     I noticed this in the 2011 Renaissance annual report.   Renaissance Brandon contracted a consultant to provide real-time monitoring of “cyberspace” chatter and to respond when appropriate.   Maybe if they're out there they can chime in?     I'll post if I hear back on the question of whether or not it was Renaissance that has actually purchased (if its for sure been sold?) or is in the process of purchasing the building but at any rate this info gives some insight into the direction that Renaissance has planned on that section of downtown taking.     Side note, this thread is not a general debate on the Mayors term in office...I'd ask that we please stick to the topic of the land purchase that's suggested in the original post. thanks very much "

and that could very will be the case. Many people in this city consider that the city and Renaissance Brandon to be one and the same although it seems Renaissance Brandon doesn't seem to have to be accountable to the public and some of the same people on City council also sit on the Renaissance board.  
 
Also the figure you mention above could've been the purchase of the Parking lot at 10th and Princess???

SURE WOULD BE NICE IT THE WEST,SOUTH,NORTH AND EAST END OF THE CITY GOT AS MUCH ATTENTION AS DOWNTOWN DOES.IT IS BECOMING A MONEY PIT.OF COURSE IF I HAD LAND AND BUSINESS DOWNTOWN AND PULL AT CITY HALL LIKE SOMEONE WE KNOW THEN FOR SURE I WOULD SPEND TAXPAYERS MONEY TO TRY AND MAKE IT BETTER BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE WILL.  
 
Edited by B.M, 2012-08-18 13:15:23

I have to admit over the years, i've been a bit of a downtown skeptic. It hasn't been that i haven't wanted success for downtown, rather i didn't see a path being built for success.  
 
I have to agree that i've been delighted to see alot of the recent developments happening downtown. These developments coupled with some creative visions for downtown will help us to move in the right direction. Next we need to find a much better use of the town center space. Personally, i feel it's served it's usefulness, as evident by the lack of businesses located or thriving within it's walls and believe it's time for it to come down.  
 
In my "regarding downtown opinion" if it will no longer benefit a more vibrant and robust Brandon in the future, bring it down and let's move forward. Downtown rejuvination is bound to ruffle some people's feathers, but in the end a healthy core is good for everyone in Brandon.

I would like to see a casino downtown. There will be a new Y, but there was already one, so to me, no big deal. The skateboard park, is okay, but does not bring a lot of people downtown. I think there needs to be something big to start this "hub". So tired of that name and hearing about the hub. I think SDH has to announce something really big to bring back some credibility for herself. Painting the benches red, wow, that will bring people downtown. Get a casino, then a hotel, then a few restaurants, stores and the strand, etc.

SJK said "    homeinmanitoba said "Got a link to the facts there sport. " I don't. Word of mouth from someone directly involved in the chain of events.     "

a rumour, might one say gossip? Second hand unverified info.

Zara said "    SJK said "    homeinmanitoba said "Got a link to the facts there sport. " I don't. Word of mouth from someone directly involved in the chain of events.     " a rumour, might one say gossip? Second hand unverified info. "

I don't gossip. Just because it isn't something I can cut and paste (your specialty) does not mean it to be a rumour!  

SJK said "    Zara said "    SJK said "    homeinmanitoba said "Got a link to the facts there sport. " I don't. Word of mouth from someone directly involved in the chain of events.     " a rumour, might one say gossip? Second hand unverified info. " I don't gossip. Just because it isn't something I can cut and paste (your specialty) does not mean it to be a rumour!   "

This thread is purely gossip and rumour, I'm surprised it's even still up. Adam even put "rumour" in the title. Putting information out to the public without anything at all to back you up IS gossip, plain and simple. If you weren't a gossip, you would have waited until you had some proof.

I'll put out a full retraction and apology if this proves to be false but as of right now I stand behind my statements!  
 
Hard to believe that if this information was false, that somebody, (anybody in the know) would publicly challenge/dispute what I've said.  
We all know that this site is viewed by city hall, Renaissance Brandon, Brandon Sun etc.  
Someone could very easily dispute my claims and put this to rest.  
But silence.........................  
 
 

Opinionated said "    SJK said "    Zara said "    SJK said "    homeinmanitoba said "Got a link to the facts there sport. " I don't. Word of mouth from someone directly involved in the chain of events.     " a rumour, might one say gossip? Second hand unverified info. " I don't gossip. Just because it isn't something I can cut and paste (your specialty) does not mean it to be a rumour!   " This thread is purely gossip and rumour, I'm surprised it's even still up. Adam even put "rumour" in the title. Putting information out to the public without anything at all to back you up IS gossip, plain and simple. If you weren't a gossip, you would have waited until you had some proof. "

Would take a fairly fertile mind to dream up a rumour out of the blue such as this. Or maybe it's just the weekly bomb festering out of city hall with a new modus operandi designed and timed to blow over while someone hides out in Costa Rica for three weeks.  
 
So let's see, couldn't sell Convergy's building, inherited Old Brandon Inn building(with huge demolition/environmental costs), old police station(salable...not in "Hub" by the way), old fire hall(pipedreamable), now the purchase of another environmental nightmare adjacent to a run down facade called the Strand all at the taxpayer's expense.  
 
That's a pretty big gamble for a casino that the Premier can't and publicly stated won't grant a license for. One would hope there's a back up plan...but this is Brandon here and now after all.  
 
Edited by Caligula, 2012-08-19 10:35:37

Here's what I've been able to find out.  
 
- a city spokesperson has confirmed that the city has not purchased the building nor will it be  
- the land title for 907 Princess Ave shows the legal owner as of today being the Brandon Real Estate Board, so as of now the building has not been sold as far as the title is concerned  
- I have not yet received a response to an inquiry sent Friday night to Braden Pilling of Renaissance Brandon or Ren Brandon Chair Shaun Cameron. Will post if and when I hear anything.. we did just get through a weekend!  
 
Edited by Adam, 2012-08-20 12:45:40

I listened to Feedback with Tyler Glen and Shaun Cameron this morning. When Tyler asked Cameron if Renaissance Brandon was buying the BREB building, Cameron said there would be an announcement in a couple of days. So it sounds like there is some credibility to these rumours.  
 
I called an "in the know" source yesterday and he told me that Ren Brandon has had an option to purchase the BREB land for a year now. It sounds like they may be exercising that option sometime soon.

Braden Pilling has confirmed for me that Renaissance is actively pursuing the BREB property but no other details are available at this time due to confidentiality.