Six-storey Holiday Inn Express proposed for Brandon

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This article was published 29/09/2017 (3120 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A six-storey, 116-room Holiday Inn Express would replace the boarded-up Western Motel on 18th Street if a proposal currently before the City of Brandon is followed through with and approved.

The proposal was submitted to the city on Sept. 8, which director of economic development Sandy Trudel said signals a significant step moving forward, from being worked on in the background to the public forum.

“It speaks to growth,” Trudel said. “It speaks to the proponent recognizing the economic opportunities out here.”

Reluctant to say whether he’s on board until such time as the proposal’s nuances have been hashed out, Coun. John LoRegio (Meadows-Waverly) said that at first glance, it seems like excellent news for the area.

“It kind of fits the neighbourhood. With all of the events going on across the street it just makes sense,” LoRegio said, referencing the nearby Keystone Centre. “That’s a very prime piece of property.”

Trudel said that, should the proponent move forward, it would be a boon to Brandon First, an organization that strives to bring large-scale events to the Wheat City.

Offering more lodging in close proximity to the city’s largest events venue would only help the not-for-profit destination marketing organization’s efforts to attract the attention of event organizers.

Even without the Keystone Centre, it’s a prime location for a hotel, LoRegio said, adding that its highly visible situation along one of the city’s busiest streets and its mainly commercial surrounding neighbourhood both also point it in a positive direction.

“It looks good, but let’s see the details,” he said, adding that he’d yet to hear any feedback from the neighbourhood.

On Thursday, representatives from two area businesses who declined to speak on the record said that they didn’t have any immediate concerns about the proposal.

Both said that they looked forward to seeing the long-vacant Western Motel done away with.

The applicant is Brandon-based Burns Maendel Consulting Engineers Ltd., on behalf of P.R. Hotels (Brandon) Ltd., based out of Saskatoon.

On Thursday, a representative from P.R. Hotels declined comment until such time as the proposal had progressed further in the approvals process, adding that their plans might change pending municipal direction.

As proposed, the building would require it to exceed the municipality’s Commercial Arterial Zone restriction that would limit it to 2.5 storeys, in addition to a few other variances, including the number of parking spots available.

The Holiday Inn’s “Express” designation points to it being a “limited service hotel,” meaning it would include neither a restaurant nor a lounge.

“To ensure efficient traffic flow” along 18th Street, the proponent put forward the idea of having the building’s access and canopy entrance being located off of 19th Street, with parking situated between the structure and 18th Street, where the Western Motel’s main entrance is currently located, as well as on either side of the building.

The property in question stretches between 18th Street and 19th Street, with the proponent making allowances for the current Hakim Optical and Robinson Mall commercial spaces, which bookend the existing motel’s main entrance along 18th Street.

The Brandon Sun will follow this story as the proposal makes its way through the

City of Brandon’s regulatory process.

» tclarke@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB