The Government of New Brunswick has issued a request for proposal (RFP) for Fredericton’s Centennial Building with the intent to ink a new chapter for the historic facility.
The RFP follows a fall 2018 announcement that the NB Government would be redeveloping the property as part of its plans to address the provincial deficit. At the time, funding had not yet been allocated.
“Our government has been discussing a number of possibilities for this property, and moving to a request for proposals will give us additional ideas to consider from the private sector,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Bill Oliver in his latest release. “We understand that the development of this property is important to downtown Fredericton, and we think it is in the best interest of New Brunswick taxpayers and the City to consider all options, including those that would not involve taxpayer dollars.”
The RFP was issued from a newly established interdepartmental steering committee. It will evaluate submissions based on several factors, including:
- Highest bid and best use of property
- No inclusion of public money or risk to provincial taxpayers
- New Brunswick content
- Open and transparent process
- A requirement to develop the property, not leave “as is”
The RFP also includes considerations for artwork within the building, and plans for the province to retain ownership to ensure its accessibility to the public.
“While the goal is to determine the best possible option for the Centennial Building, we will have to consider all possibilities before we would move forward with any potential sale,” said Oliver.
