Province seeking proposals to develop Borden-Carleton fabrication yard

The government of P.E.I. has begun accepting proposals from private-sector players looking to redevelop the former Confederation Bridge fabrication yard.

Innovation P.E.I., which owns the land, is working in partnership with the Town of Borden-Carleton to develop the property — a process that Mayor Randy Ahearn calls "very important" to the town. 

"It's going to shape our future, I think, one way or another," Ahearn told CBC News.

The province is using a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process to sort ideas based on a number of criteria. Those include who's on the development team, how much access the parties have to financing, and whether the application aligns with the community's vision for the land.

"It is important for us to work collaboratively and in partnership with the Town of Borden-Carleton to make sure this project is a success and to make sure it fits in the confines of what they need," said Gilles Arsenault, P.E.I.'s economic development minister.

The former fabrication yard has been dormant since the Confederation Bridge to New Brunswick was completed in 1997. The province began cleaning up the site in 2022, given that it was still littered with slabs of concrete and rebar left over from the construction.

There has been some criticism that the process to redevelop the property has moved too slowly, but the minister said the province and the town are not going to be "rushed" into accepting any one plan.

"We want to make sure that we have the process in place," said Arsenault. "We have a very fair and transparent opportunity for everybody here and we didn't want to be sidelined by anybody, or any groups."

To ensure the process is thorough, the minister said the province has extended the RFP application process to 90 days, triple the usual 30 days. The deadline is Nov. 13 at 2 p.m.

"We want to make sure people have ample opportunity to apply," said Arsenault.

Ahearn also said it was important for the process to be carried out correctly.

"It's been a while, but we are working in the right direction," he said. "I think this will be very important for us."  

Building a new golf course could be among the options for the site. Last fall, a local developer proposed the land be developed into a links-style course, an idea some town residents seemed to support.

When asked if a golf course might be a good fit, Ahearn says the town is "hoping for anything."