New incentive program aims to spur high-density, mixed-use development in downtown Brandon

Southwestern Manitoba's biggest city is using $1.5 million from the federal housing accelerator fund to spur construction of high-density mixed-use buildings in its core.

Brandon launched a downtown market housing incentive program this week, with a new bylaw approved Monday that makes it clear how the program will work for developers who want to build housing downtown.

"The developers know what they are going to get. If they put in X request, you're going to get Y without having to go to council," said Amanda Dupuis, the city's community housing and wellness programmer.

The new incentive program is designed to accelerate residential growth through developer tax credits, development charge offsets and capital grants using housing accelerator funding — a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation program that gives municipalities funding for housing development.

Brandon has been approved for up to $6.2 million in funds in four payments of $1,562,090. The city's initial payment has been received and allocated to downtown market housing and citywide affordable housing.

The new bylaw allows qualified developers of new market-price dwelling units to automatically get incentives on a sliding scale, based on their location in four areas of downtown.

James Chambers, who has co-owned Chez Angela Bakery and Café with his wife Angie for almost seven years, says they love Brandon's downtown because it's where they grew up.

The bricks and the wood in the café come from a downtown movie theatre where they had one of their first dates. 

But developing and promoting Brandon's downtown is challenging, because there is a perception it's unsafe, he said.

The new housing initiative is going to be a huge factor in changing these negative stereotypes, Chambers said.

Having more apartments will help bring life to downtown, he said. 

"When you actually put ... market-rate housing in the core of downtown, what that gives you is just a vibrancy," he said.

"The foot traffic happens naturally.... There becomes more places to shop and there's more coffee cafés and bakeries."

The funding is part of a bigger plan and other programs that are already working  to create a more lively downtown, he said.