Discussions

Many, many people have good ideas for how to fix the challenges facing Brandon's core area. These are the ideas that I announced six months ago.  
 
If you have ideas, list them. Maybe it will eventually result in an effective plan that will involve all core area stakeholders, including the poor, the disabled and minorities.  
 
You will see that many of my ideas have already been adopted. Here they are:  
 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT  
 
• Aggressively pursue our fair share of downtown revitalization funding from senior levels of government  
 
• The City will take the lead on a BIA-type organization run from City Hall. Downtown redevelopment has to be a major goal of the City and it has to play a leadership role.  
 
LAND USE  
 
• construct more seniors homes, starting with the vacant property at 15th & Rosser  
 
• vigorous enforcement of all zoning by-laws, building codes, fire regulations vis-a-vis older housing and strengthen if necessary  
 
• slum landlord by-law – clean it up or its ours  
 
• a by-law regulating the proliferation of pawn shops, second-hand clothing stores, cheque cashing services, adult video stores, etc.  
 
• two-way streets downtown  
 
• binding design standards for new construction and renovation in the core area.  
 
• down-zoning in core area – no new conversions of homes into apartments, all present single family homes zone R1, all former multi-unit homes converted to single family also down-zoned to R1  
 
• use surplus, non-polluted City land for Habitat for Humanity-type projects  
 
• affordable housing projects for families on surplus school grounds.  
 
• moratorium on zoning variations allowing for greater density housing in core area  
 
• moratorium on large-scale commercial development in Brandon  
 
• free parking downtown (subject only to time limits)  
 
RECREATION  
 
• skating oval downtown with a shinny rink at Princess Park  
 
• youth soccer and tee ball games at core area school grounds and public parks  
 
• skateboard park with dual-use capability – i.e. designed in such a way that it can be used in the winter by either skaters or snowboarders  
 
• more beach volleyball courts at Stanley Park and Princess Park  
 
CULTURE  
 
• encourage busker-like activities in the downtown area during the summer  
 
• town square – where the city gathers for major outdoor events  
 
• public art & music – consider moving the folk festival and other events downtown, annual commitment to sculpture  
 
• close off the streets more often – encourage massive yard sales every summer weekend.  
 
 
TAXATION  
 
• seniors’ tax deferral program (allowing core area seniors to remain in their homes longer)  
 
• tax assessment holiday for all home renovations conducted within the area serviced by the BNRC  
 
• tax rebates/incentives for downtown businesses – separate (lower) tax category  
 
 
PUBLIC SAFETY  
 
• better lighting in the core area