When I was in Brandon last week, I was checking out the birds from that the office supply store's parking lot - right across from the Massey Building condo block. It will be weird to be back there in a while and have it looks so different - it has basically looked the same since I started with the Project ... gods a very very long time ago ... not sure if I didn't have drinks where the beer vendor is way back in my undergrad days when we had a urban planning field course out in Brandon ...
Having seen how solidly McKenzie Seeds was built in 1910 and that the Massey Building is of an age (built in 1913) I hope the bones of the building survives and that they are able to repair/renovate again. There are a number of these beautiful old buildings by the rail lines in Brandon that really should be given a second (or third) lease on life. Great bones, great (really really great views), out of range of flood damage and while it doesn't take a particularly long time to get anywhere in Brandon, the downtown is going through a bit of a commercial revitalization that would really boost the appeal of living downtown and living downtown would really boost the revitalization. Same could be said for lots of places but Brandon's downtown has a nice size/feel to it that could make it easier or perhaps more appealing for developers. And it isn't as though Brandon doesn't have the need for more housing. Would be nice to think it doesn't all come down to money - that helping other businesses, helping people and helping the community overall might play a role. Or maybe I'm just too much of an optimist.
