A Grand Entrance: City Invites Expressions of Interest for Prestigious Downtown Location

The City of Brantford invites expressions of interest (E.O.I.) for the purchase and redevelopment of the lands informally known as the Colborne Point Lands located on the south side of Colborne Street adjacent to the architecturally significant Laurier/YMCA athletic facility. The City is seeking developers with a proven track record of delivering outstanding, architecturally significant developments and a willingness to demonstrate creativity on a project that has the potential to bring significant benefits to the community.

The City’s committee of the whole unanimously approved a plan on December 8 to issue a request for expressions of interest for the purchase and redevelopment of approximately 1.6 acres of land at Colborne Street and Icomm Drive. The flatiron-shaped property, referred to as Colborne Point, forms a gateway into the city centre from the west, and affords scenic views of the nearby Grand River.

“This is a very unique property, it’s a gateway property for the downtown,” noted Mayor Kevin Davis. “Of all the various properties in Brantford, it has the greatest potential for making a statement about our city and also our downtown.”

E.O.I. OFFICIAL PAGE

Under the city’s official plan, the Colborne Point property is envisioned to accommodate a mix of residential and commercial buildings at least three storeys tall, with the intention of improving the streetscape and elevating the urban design and architecture of downtown Brantford. Uses at grade would include restaurants, cafes, and retail, with parking incorporated on the ground floor along Icomm Drive, which slopes downhill several storeys below the grade of Colborne Street.

Mayor Davis said it’s essential that the redevelopment of the property include a residential component to improve the health, diversity, and vitality of downtown. “It’s critical that this building be successful so that others will then emulate it and follow it,” Davis said. “It’s like a puzzle, you have a lot of pieces that make for a very successful downtown, but the missing ingredient has been more people living downtown. Because what all flows from that is more boutique stores, restaurants, and probably an expansion of the entertainment industry downtown.”

Barbara Sutherland, chair of the Downtown Brantford Business Improvement Area, said that the redevelopment of Colborne Point could spur additional and necessary investment in the city.

“We are hoping that this energy in the downtown will not only attract new businesses and increase the population of permanent residents, but also stimulate current property owners into updating their commercial properties,” Sutherland said. “This could be a much-needed and timely revival of the economy in downtown Brantford.”

Sutherland said ideally, any prospective development on Colborne Point would include distinctive gateway signage, public art, attractive landscaping, condominiums, and adequate street-level commercial space.

“Colborne Point is a gateway to the historic downtown, and as overused this term may have become, we would like whatever is built on this space to provide a sense of place,” Sutherland said. “The downtown is undergoing a facelift through the City of Brantford Downtown Revitalization Plan and Colborne Point should announce that this is the entrance to a revitalized downtown.”

Enhancements under the revitalization plan include the Laurier-Brantford YMCA, Harmony Square, a new façade and revamped main floor for the downtown library, and a capital plan for road improvements.

Sutherland added that buildings designed for the property should reflect the facades of existing downtown former post office at Dalhousie and Queen streets, which is set to become Brantford’s new city hall.

The proximity of the site to the adjacent Laurier Brantford YMCA, the Brantford Public Library, the riverfront trail network, Elements Casino Brantford, the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts, and the VIA Rail station are assets Mayor Davis said makes the property distinctive and iconic.

An evaluation committee that includes the mayor and the two city councillors representing the ward in which Colborne Point is located is expected to receive and review submissions for the redevelopment of the property by the end of February. The submissions will then be presented for public input.

Some content for this article was taken from the NRU Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area publication dated January 13, 2021.