Developer plans senior housing complex in long-vacant Brandon landmark

The historic McKenzie Seeds building in Brandon, seen in 2024, has been purchased by a Manitoba developer with plans to convert it into part of a senior housing complex. (Blackbird Housing Inc.)

A Manitoba-based developer has acquired Brandon’s historic McKenzie Seeds building with plans to convert the long-vacant property into a senior housing development.

Blackbird Housing president Paul Souque said the company purchased the two-building complex just over three months ago from Brandon Fresh Farms for $3.25 million. The proposed budget for the development is $20 million, fully funded through partnerships.

The complex consists of two connected buildings—the historic seven-storey McKenzie Seeds structure and a five-storey newer building of similar square footage, joined by skywalks.

Souque said the five-storey building will house approximately 130 suites, while the historic building will contain businesses related to health-care, facilities and common spaces. The site also features a rooftop deck of more than 10,000 square feet offering a nearly 360-degree view.

Built in 1910, the McKenzie Seeds building housed the company for decades. According to Manitoba’s Historic Resources Branch, McKenzie Seeds became the largest seed production and distribution business in Western Canada, and the building was designated a provincial heritage site in 1988.

“There’s no shortage of desire for senior housing,” Souque said, describing the project as the company’s flagship development.

“Senior housing is a solution to the broader housing problem, because if you can get seniors into an attainable, safe living space that cares for their needs, it frees up housing and apartments for the community in general,” he said.

Souque said the site has sat vacant for approximately 14 years, cycling through a series of proposed developments—including luxury condos, rental units and most recently a vertical farming operation under Brandon Fresh Farms—none of which came to fruition. Previous owners did complete gutting and abatement work on the buildings, he said.

To map out the project, Blackbird Housing plans to laser scan the structures to create a precise digital model.

“Part of our strategy with this project as well is laser scanning these buildings, and we’re using newer technology, and what they do is create like a digital twin of the buildings to within millimeters of accuracy,” he said.

Souque said the scans will be used to guide the precision engineering of the floors and layout.

One remnant of the building’s past is a concrete seed bin on the seventh floor, where ceilings reach approximately 30 feet. Souque said removing the bin would be impractical, as it is built into the structure, but the space could eventually serve a new purpose.

“We’ve always had this desire to potentially do an event centre up top. It would be one of the best views in the area, so those kinds of things are potentials. But first things first is the housing, and then the dreams can follow,” he said.

Blackbird Housing has also partnered with a health technology company to deploy non-invasive monitoring systems in all suites, including fall detection and heart rate tracking.

“Through construction technology, health monitoring technology, we’re trying to deliver attainable, dignified living,” he said.

Construction is expected to begin later this year, though no firm completion timeline has been set.

“This is a pretty large investment in downtown Brandon, which is a great thing,” Souque said.