Bramm Yards Master Plan

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This project is now complete. Council has approved the revised vision and development principles for the Bramm Yards Master Plan. Read the full report online

The Bramm Yards is a City-owned parking lot in Downtown Kitchener. At eight acres in size, it is the largest remaining parcel of land the City owns that can be used to support future employment.

In the City’s Official Plan, the Bramm Yards are part of the Urban Growth Centre. This means that these lands are expected to accommodate higher intensity, mixed-use development. The Bramm Yards are also part of the Innovation District. This means that these lands are expected to accommodate major office developments.

We are creating a Master Plan that will guide future development at the Bramm Yards site (55 Bramm Street and 130 Park Street). The City’s goal is to transform this parking lot into an urban business park to accommodate hundreds of future jobs.

What is an Urban Business Park?

Not unlike existing business parks, such as the Homer Watson Business Park, the primary purpose is to see the construction of buildings that house new businesses. However, unlike suburban business parks, an urban business park would contain larger buildings with multiple stories. Buildings would be built close together with wider sidewalks and underground parking. It might contain a mixture of uses, such as restaurants, shops and housing.

How would the Urban Business Park be built?

The first step is for City Council to develop a master plan, which identifies how the community would like to see the business park developed. This includes a vision and a set of development principles. The second step is for City Council to determine the best way for this vision to become a reality. This could include, for example, the City selling all or a portion of the Bramm Yards to a developer who would build the business park.

A focus on Health Innovation

As the Canadian population continues to age, health industries are expected to experience significant growth. Bramm Yards is ideally situated to attract businesses focused on health innovation in Kitchener. It is close to:

  • University of Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy
  • University of Waterloo’s future Health Innovation Arena
  • University of Waterloo’s Velocity Incubator
  • MacMaster University’s School of Medicine
  • Communitech
  • Google

The Bramm Yards are also not far from:

  • Grand River Hospital
  • The Medical Innovation Exchange

How you can contribute

We are seeking input from residents on the proposed Vision and Development Principles for the Bramm Yards. These will form the foundation of the Bramm Yards Master Plan and the future development of the urban business park. Your contributions will help ensure the development reflects the goals and ambitions of our community.

Stay Informed

Subscribe for updates and be the first to know about news and information about this project. Add your email to the Stay Informed box on this page and click ‘Subscribe’.

The Bramm Yards is a City-owned parking lot in Downtown Kitchener. At eight acres in size, it is the largest remaining parcel of land the City owns that can be used to support future employment.

In the City’s Official Plan, the Bramm Yards are part of the Urban Growth Centre. This means that these lands are expected to accommodate higher intensity, mixed-use development. The Bramm Yards are also part of the Innovation District. This means that these lands are expected to accommodate major office developments.

We are creating a Master Plan that will guide future development at the Bramm Yards site (55 Bramm Street and 130 Park Street). The City’s goal is to transform this parking lot into an urban business park to accommodate hundreds of future jobs.

What is an Urban Business Park?

Not unlike existing business parks, such as the Homer Watson Business Park, the primary purpose is to see the construction of buildings that house new businesses. However, unlike suburban business parks, an urban business park would contain larger buildings with multiple stories. Buildings would be built close together with wider sidewalks and underground parking. It might contain a mixture of uses, such as restaurants, shops and housing.

How would the Urban Business Park be built?

The first step is for City Council to develop a master plan, which identifies how the community would like to see the business park developed. This includes a vision and a set of development principles. The second step is for City Council to determine the best way for this vision to become a reality. This could include, for example, the City selling all or a portion of the Bramm Yards to a developer who would build the business park.

A focus on Health Innovation

As the Canadian population continues to age, health industries are expected to experience significant growth. Bramm Yards is ideally situated to attract businesses focused on health innovation in Kitchener. It is close to:

  • University of Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy
  • University of Waterloo’s future Health Innovation Arena
  • University of Waterloo’s Velocity Incubator
  • MacMaster University’s School of Medicine
  • Communitech
  • Google

The Bramm Yards are also not far from:

  • Grand River Hospital
  • The Medical Innovation Exchange

How you can contribute

We are seeking input from residents on the proposed Vision and Development Principles for the Bramm Yards. These will form the foundation of the Bramm Yards Master Plan and the future development of the urban business park. Your contributions will help ensure the development reflects the goals and ambitions of our community.

Stay Informed

Subscribe for updates and be the first to know about news and information about this project. Add your email to the Stay Informed box on this page and click ‘Subscribe’.


This project is now complete. Council has approved the revised vision and development principles for the Bramm Yards Master Plan. Read the full report online

  • Council supports vision for the future of Bramm Yards

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    Council has approved the revised vision and development principles for the Bramm Yards Master Plan. The plan includes allocating up to $400,000 from the Environmental Remediation Reserve for pre-design reports necessary for the redevelopment of Bramm Yards at 55 Bramm Street and 130 Park Street. Additionally, staff will conduct a market assessment to determine the optimal timing for selling the property and identify potential development constraints to ensure a successful redevelopment process. Going forward, staff will collaborate with the University of Waterloo to ensure a shared vision related to the development plan for the Bramm Yards area (given the neighbouring Health Innovation Arena UW Health Sciences Campus).

    Comprised of eight acres, the Bramm Yards is one of the most significant City-owned land holdings and is central to the city’s Innovation District. Redevelopment of the site aims to boost innovation employment and housing, support business growth in the Innovation District (Downtown Kitchener) and enhance municipal tax revenues. The initiative aligns with the city's strategic goals to cultivate a green city, build a connected city, and create an economically- thriving city.

    Read the full report online

  • Summary of public input

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    We presented our report to the Finance and Corporate Services Committee on June 13, 2024. This report included a summary of the public input we received over the last year.

    Read the staff report