Discussions

Boy this project is very unorginized and going sideways quickly??

run by people with little business experience using public money , what did you expect ?

The Brandon Downtown Development Corp. is giving BU a $500k grant of bring down the Strand Theatre.

You mean the 'collective' taxpayers of this city and province are forking over the cash! And that's just for demolition!  
 
I think BU has bitten off more than they can chew with this plan. They have already got a warning that their big plans need to be scaled back.  
 
Do I hope that BU can put something great downtown? Yup! But as a taxpayer they better not be knocking on our doors too awfully much!

Slo mo said "Boy this project is very unorginized and going sideways quickly?? "

Maybe you can explain why you think it's (sp) unorganized and going sideways.

Doesn''t start till you have a solid plan organized. They are still getting consulting and they have already started demolishing the site. Now they seem to be putting the brakes on because they have too many options and too many decisions to make. Next thing you know the project will fall apart and the $500,000 cleanup will be partly completed.  
 
Edited by Slo mo, 2018-03-28 13:33:50

Kellye said "    Slo mo said "Boy this project is very unorginized and going sideways quickly?? " Maybe you can explain why you think it's (sp) unorganized and going sideways. "

I too, would like to know what he's referring to. Sounds to me like the old Brandon rumour mill has fired up again.

I don't understand where they are coming up with the budgeted 103 million needed for the project.  
www.brandonu.ca/downtown/files/BU-Downtown-Pre-Development-Report.pdf  
I don't understand where Downtown Development Corporation got $500 grand to give to the University. The province stopped matching the city donation so they asked for more from the city for 2018.  
https://www.brandonsun.com/local/downtown-brandon-group-seeks-more-funding-from-city-after-province-terminates-agreement-466904613.html

What happened to the housing project planned on the property just west of the Old Fleming School? So are both plots of land going to now sit there until a plan with enough "free money" drops from the sky? This is what annoys me a bit. Just like a child with a attention disorder, start one thing then loose interest when it gets tough or boring then start another. But in the Universities case, there is no one with authority (like a mommy) to tell them to finish one thing before starting another. Maybe the Brandon Downtown Development Corp. should be also giving them some black dirt and grass seed with the money so at least it'll look alright during the years of planning/panhandling?  
 
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

1 project at a time. The family housing project is very much needed right now.

Slo mo said "1 project at a time. The family housing project is very much needed right now. "

Was relying on Manitoba housing coming to the table with the funds to pay for it. When they didn't secure the funding the project came to a stop. Also they relying on fully or partially donated land from an alumni member.  
 
BU has put the cart before the horse on the down town project as well. They have not even secured the BU board of directors approval for the project. They have now lost ACC as a partner in a joint buinsess school in teh facility. Their funding of the project is based on government money and donations .  
 
If the students don't like tuition hikes when the goverment reduces grants for addministration positions at the school how will they feel when they are paying for the downtown campus?  
 
Should be interesting to watch.

that the Brandon Sun had reported that two of BU's buildings on 18th. street need extensive repairs also. It looks like the uni needs a lot more cash.

Okay yeah its tax dollars being spent on a very expensive project but have you thought about how good it would be for the community? This project will bring young people down town again and hopefully make down town a happening place again. Having more people down town more frequently actually makes it safer (for those of you that are afraid). I was sad to see the strand go, but it might be a martyr for a revival of down town. Walmart killed the down town.. maybe the BU project will bring it back to life and attract people to fill some of the vacant spaces downtown.

Gosh, sounds like a post from years back defending the BFMAS Strand project  
 
Tax dollars are in high demand all over but the province has had to cut back on their giving because of the huge debt they inherited.  
 
Article in the Brandon Sun today states that BU needs to scale back their ambitious plans. I don't know about you but I believe it.

Fishin Guy said "I don't understand where they are coming up with the budgeted 103 million needed for the project.   www.brandonu.ca/downtown/files/BU-Downtown-Pre-Development-Report.pdf   I don't understand where Downtown Development Corporation got $500 grand to give to the University. The province stopped matching the city donation so they asked for more from the city for 2018.   https://www.brandonsun.com/local/downtown-brandon-group-seeks-more-funding-from-city-after-province-terminates-agreement-466904613.html "

the 500 grand is coming out of the reserves of the BDDC.  
 
The city upped their share to 300 g after the province stopped giving cash.  
 
As for the 103 million needed? Who knows?

I don’t understand the negativity. Nothing would never have happened in this area as long as the strand was still standing. Money was available to pay the cost of demolition. Does it matter if there isn’t a solid plan in place? With the strand gone, paid by money available from BDDC the university would be stupid to not get it done. It’s not money wasted, it’s money for downtown, and it’s being put to good work. The strand is now almost down. The demo is going very well. Even if they do nothing else for 2 years, what an accomplishment to have that done and the area ready for development.  
 
When this project comes to fruition it will be nothing but good for downtown. It will bring people there, which means it will also bring business there. I just don’t see any negatives to this at all. What a great investment from he city, the university and the BDDC.

If you want people downtown you need to remove people from down town. No matter what you put there no one of any age is going downtown.

Johnbisonbear said "    Fishin Guy said "I don't understand where they are coming up with the budgeted 103 million needed for the project.   www.brandonu.ca/downtown/files/BU-Downtown-Pre-Development-Report.pdf   I don't understand where Downtown Development Corporation got $500 grand to give to the University. The province stopped matching the city donation so they asked for more from the city for 2018.   https://www.brandonsun.com/local/downtown-brandon-group-seeks-more-funding-from-city-after-province-terminates-agreement-466904613.html " the 500 grand is coming out of the reserves of the BDDC.     The city upped their share to 300 g after the province stopped giving cash.     As for the 103 million needed? Who knows? "

The Redevelopment Grant application must have changed. Right off the website the application says that a max grant of $175,000 can be applied for. The only thing I can see coming out of this is a "you pay" paved parking lot. If this organization can afford to give out almost 3 times their allowable grant set and needs to ask the city for higher yearly contributions.....they have too much money as it is then.  
 
There is no way the university can secure over 100 million for this project. And this is Brandon, everything is always over budget...150 million is looking like a more reasonable number unfortunately.

Cost to build MTS Centre $133.5 million  
 
Cost to build Investors Group Field $384 million  
 
Cost to build Sand Hills Casino...more than they could afford  
 
So $150 mil for a campus downtown that only a select few people will use is not unreasonable

if you want people downtown  
Posted by RichardL, 3/28/2018 6:54:06 PM  
If you want people downtown you need to remove people from down town. No matter what you put there no one of any age is going downtown.  
 
Really RichardL??? Remove people? Do you believe that you are superior to those people in downtown? Who are you?  
 
You used the wrong choice of words!

Tirilita said "if you want people downtown   Posted by RichardL, 3/28/2018 6:54:06 PM   If you want people downtown you need to remove people from down town. No matter what you put there no one of any age is going downtown.     Really RichardL??? Remove people? Do you believe that you are superior to those people in downtown? Who are you?     You used the wrong choice of words! "

No one wants to go downtown and feel unsafe! No one wants to come across people who have a skin full, booze or whatever their choice of poison is!  
 
The city is implementing a 'downtown ambassador', not sure when, but that will make people feel more confident on being downtown.  
 
There are some really great businesses in the area.

Not what I meant. And I’m sorry you took that as you did. Go down town and see people of all kinds not just the kind that you assumed. I did not single anyone out im sorry to anyone who misunderstood and thinks I did. Bad people of all kinds need to be removed as other commenters said it’s more or less the poison and all people are using it.

Tirilita said "if you want people downtown   Posted by RichardL, 3/28/2018 6:54:06 PM   If you want people downtown you need to remove people from down town. No matter what you put there no one of any age is going downtown.     Really RichardL??? Remove people? Do you believe that you are superior to those people in downtown? Who are you?     You used the wrong choice of words! "

a lot of the people that presently frequent downtown are of concern to the people that would support the type of businesses that some want downtown . call it what you want but it is a factor

To RicharL: Our friendship is restored, I am glad you explained yourself :-)  
 
"We are quick to judge, fear or even hate the unknown" I wonder how many of you that fear it actually live in downtown.  
 
I live in downtown and I have never been afraid.  
To mackenzy5 please consider also these other factors. Except for some abandoned buildings (projects like BU downtown will solve this issue), I've barely hear any sirens, I don't see bars on the business windows, I don't see trash on the sidewalks like liquor bottles or beer cans, I've never witnessed any illegal activities such as drugs, prostitution, loud domestic fights and, no shots fired.  
Therefore, I do not consider downtown Brandon a dangerous place at all.  
Yes, I've seen people drinking and people drunk but they have never been unkind to me or other people, they say hello and smile or just keep to themselves. Alcohol addiction is a mental illness and you don't just remove ill people you treat them!

Adding people to an area is that way to go... its kind of backwards from what youd expect. Research has shown that by adding people to an area it will attract more people. Of course it depends on the area. but thats why something like a BU build downtown would be great for the area, more people would be there, maybe a little more policing and thus less crime. We can thank Walmart for killing downtown. Maybe we will be able to thank BU and some other businesses/organizations for reviving it some day

Tirilita said "To RicharL: Our friendship is restored, I am glad you explained yourself :-)     "We are quick to judge, fear or even hate the unknown" I wonder how many of you that fear it actually live in downtown.     I live in downtown and I have never been afraid.   To mackenzy5 please consider also these other factors. Except for some abandoned buildings (projects like BU downtown will solve this issue), I've barely hear any sirens, I don't see bars on the business windows, I don't see trash on the sidewalks like liquor bottles or beer cans, I've never witnessed any illegal activities such as drugs, prostitution, loud domestic fights and, no shots fired.   Therefore, I do not consider downtown Brandon a dangerous place at all.   Yes, I've seen people drinking and people drunk but they have never been unkind to me or other people, they say hello and smile or just keep to themselves. Alcohol addiction is a mental illness and you don't just remove ill people you treat them! "

Not to derail or take anything away from the topic but just a note that BMHC (Brandon Mental Health Centre) was full of people with addictions/mental illness and those people were removed and many to fend for themselves thereafter without daily monitoring.  
 
Anyway, I don't want the city/prov/feds to hand out more and more money to projects that fail before getting started especially when in the end downtown isn't improved. How many large grants do these wishful projects deserve without having concrete plans?  
 
How many people with an ounce of money smarts would invest personal money in a venture that was half thought out? No one I know.

This is the webpage that outlines the plans for Brandon University's Downtown plans.  
 
https://www.brandonu.ca/downtown/

I have driven through DT and seen the drunken fights on Rosser avenue!

I much prefer government collect my tax dollars and put it in a huge vault and never spend it! I’d rather have decaying vacant buildings and crime in the downtown. I’d much rather the university stay small with few students. I’d rather the university do less to attract business to the downtown!  
 
/sarcasm

Never_give_up said "I don’t understand the negativity. Nothing would never have happened in this area as long as the strand was still standing. Money was available to pay the cost of demolition. Does it matter if there isn’t a solid plan in place? With the strand gone, paid by money available from BDDC the university would be stupid to not get it done. It’s not money wasted, it’s money for downtown, and it’s being put to good work. The strand is now almost down. The demo is going very well. Even if they do nothing else for 2 years, what an accomplishment to have that done and the area ready for development.     When this project comes to fruition it will be nothing but good for downtown. It will bring people there, which means it will also bring business there. I just don’t see any negatives to this at all. What a great investment from he city, the university and the BDDC. "

I have not seen a good layout of the plan but the one I did showed no added parking.  
 
They can not piggy back on the Town centre as it private and used up by the RHA others. The local business owners already have parking issues. I understand how much 2600 plus people coming downtown will help. My concern is where do they park in the day and also the evening. My math tells me there is enough extra ground parking for some but no where near all. I hope those new building have unground parking of sorts. Maybe on 6th a mini parkade? Overnite parking for residence and space for day and evening students and staff should not take space from current downtown business community and there is still many. Plus those we want to join.