Metrolinx, an agency of the Government of Ontario, is undertaking the largest transportation investment in Ontario’s history to get its customers where they need to go better, faster, easier, while also operating GO Transit, UP Express and PRESTO. Metrolinx has a unique opportunity to plan, build, operate and connect transportation in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
On December 6, 2018, Metrolinx’s Board of Directors adopted the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Market Driven Strategy. The program seeks to leverage Metrolinx real estate assets and/or the third party investment to unlock land value and utility to achieve the following objectives:
- maximizing asset & revenue potential
- prioritizing asset protection
- being a trusted business partner, and
- acting in the provincial public interest
The Metrolinx Development team manages Metrolinx-owned lands along seven (7) GO Transit rail corridors with a total area of about 1,200 acres outside the rail corridor. Specifically, the Team identifies opportunities for redevelopment of Metrolinx properties to achieve non-fare revenue and support ridership-generating activity around the GO stations.
Metrolinx is interested in developing its long-term recurring revenue strategy for its real estate portfolio. Based on Metrolinx’s internal portfolio review, certain sites proximate to GO stations have been identified as potential opportunities for redevelopment for mixed-use high-density development (collectively “the Selected Properties”). Four (4) sites will be in scope for these Services. Presently, Metrolinx anticipates the following sites:
- Weston GO
- Long Branch GO
- Oakville GO
- Brampton GO
Metrolinx reserves the right to substitute one (1), some, or all of the above four (4) sites with comparable sites appropriate for mixed-use high-density development as the Selected Properties.
Metrolinx is interested in pursuing a marketing strategy for the Selected Properties, that would seek to elicit offers from reputable developers or investors, with the potential to establish long-term ground lease agreements, and/or fee simple dispositions, at fair market value, Metrolinx is seeking long-term lease agreements to help generate recurring revenue to support the operation of its transit services while addressing its transit infrastructure requirements, where applicable.
Through this Request for Proposals (RFP) process, Metrolinx is seeking to identify and select a licensed and qualified Brokerage firm (the “Contractor”) with whom to enter into a Real Estate Advisory and Brokerage Services Agreement (“the “Resulting Contract”) to provide the required expert planning, evaluation, appraisal, real estate / marketing advisory, implementation, financial advisory and deal structuring services to deliver on Metrolinx’s objectives for the Selected Properties. As further described in the RFP document, any negotiation prior to execution of any Resulting Contract is at Metrolinx's discretion.
In addition to the delivery upon the mandate for the Selected Properties, over the Term of any Resulting Contract, Metrolinx reserves the right, but is not obligated, to further authorize the Contractor to deliver additional Real Estate Advisory and Brokerage Services for the marketing and transaction of up to two (2) additional properties, subject to the terms and conditions as further set out herein (the “Additional Services”). Such properties are anticipated to be comparable opportunities for high-density, mixed-use development to the Selected Properties.
The RFP and Supplemental and Confidential Information about the Selected Properties is made available to Proponents via a secure electronic Data Room. Note there is a requirement for Proponents to submit a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to the Metrolinx Representative (metrolinx_rp@rfpsolutions.ca) in order to gain access to the Data Room (refer to Appendix D for a copy of the NDA).
