Greyfields Revitalization Strategy
The Greyfields Revitalization Strategy project began in 2018 to focus on addressing the obstacles to revitalizing greyfield sites and encouraging private sector reinvestment in these properties. As a result, the Greyfields Community Improvement Plan (CIP) has been prepared.
Greyfields can generally be described as previously developed commercial sites that are vacant or underutilized, and/or in a state of neglect or disrepair. Greyfields are viewed as lands where there are opportunities for revitalization because they have access to existing public services, infrastructure, and utilities and, unlike brownfields, are not perceived to be subject to environmental contamination. As such, revitalization of greyfield properties is an efficient way to accommodate new growth and achieve intensification goals, promote economic development, and can also be a catalyst for positive change within a neighbourhood.
Latest Update
City Council adopted the Greyfields Community Improvement Plan at its meeting held on June 22, 2021.
The Greyfields Community Improvement Plan aims to support the revitalization of greyfield sites across the Built-Up Area, as shown below, by helping property owners make improvements to their properties or redevelop their properties into mixed use developments (with both commercial uses and residential uses). It is envisioned that these revitalization projects will provide for a variety of types and tenures of residential units, including affordable housing, support existing and new commercial uses, and facilitate the transformation of clusters of greyfield sites into attractive and thriving commercial areas.
Figure 1 – Built-up Area and Greyfield Community Improvement Project Area
The Greyfields CIP includes three financial incentive programs intended to facilitate private sector investment in greyfield sites, supporting their improvement or redevelopment, as follows:
- The Property Tax Increment-Based Grant is intended to promote the transformative redevelopment of greyfields into new mixed use developments that will increase a property’s assessed value. Depending on the provision of affordable housing units in a redevelopment project, the grant may be enhanced to provide a greater financial incentive;
- The Commercial Façade, Landscaping and Connectivity Improvement Grant is aimed at facilitating improvements to the appearance and accessibility of existing commercial and mixed use properties in Target Greyfield Revitalization Areas; and
- The Mixed Use Building Improvement Grant supports the conversion of existing buildings into mixed use buildings in Target Greyfield Revitalization Areas.
Figure 2 - Target Greyfield Revitalization Areas
For more information, please contact:
Planning Department
City of Brantford
58 Dalhousie Street, Brantford, Ontario N3T 2J2
T. 519-759-4150
E-mail: COBPlanning@brantford.ca
Subscribe to this Page
