The city of Brantford has big plans for its downtown core, specifically around the Colborne Street area. According to these plans:

• 41 decrepit buildings, some of which are still inhabited, would be purchased and revamped by a single developer

• The YMCA would establish a new sports and recreation centre on south Colborne

• Mohawk College would be expanded into the downtown area

• Laurier could expand to a campus of 10,000 students

• Pros: revitalized downtown core, focus on the expansion of post-secondary institutions, attracts business to Brantford

• Cons: unfair to Colborne businesses that have managed to thrive, forces current property owners to vacate, city would be paying high price for run-down property

• Estimated price tag: $11.5M (compared to $1.7M cost of demolishing 13 buildings to make way for Harmony square in 2002)

The Sputnik

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