The largest property on Mission’s waterfront is back up for sale.
The 87-acre site at 7011 Herman S. Braich Blvd. has been listed for sale by Goodman Commercial. In a statement, Goodman Commercial said it expects a sale over $100 million.
The property owned by the Braich family was previously listed for sale in 2022. It sits on a one-kilometre stretch of land on the bank of the Fraser River that has been cleared and partially filled with sand.
H.S. Kenny Braich, who represents the family's interests with his brother Bobby, hopes to have the property sold by the end of summer.
"We're going to do our level best to get the best deal for this community. We want the best deal and I will not prostitute what we've stood for, regardless of how horrible that rubs people in powerful positions,” Braich said.
Current zoning allows a wide range of light and heavy industrial uses including manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, mini-storage, barge loading and outdoor storage.
The listing also highlights opportunities through Mission’s Waterfront Revitalization Master Plan to introduce higher-density uses through rezoning, such as stacked industrial, office, breweries and “destination” uses.
"There's a whole array of uses that can be put in place. So going to market brings everybody's attention," Braich said.
The properties consist of eight individual titles with Mission Raceway Park, Lougheed Highway and Highway 11 nearby.
Braich says the family has previously rebuffed offers in the community's best interest.
“Every day we haven't sold this has been an active decision,” he said.
Braich described various challenges related to selling the property, including economic uncertainties and a lack of confidence in the City of Mission from the marketplace.
The location was last listed for sale in early 2022 before the adoption of the waterfront master plan.
At the time, Braich said the family ran a global marketing campaign to attract some of the biggest developers in the world, but the interest in the city’s vision was not there.
Braich said in 2022 that the largest offers they had were from foreign companies with no interest in the city’s larger vision.
“My brother and I could send one email right now, and China would own it tomorrow morning,” Braich said at the time. “We’ve elected not to, because we care.”
The property drew interest from Martini Group in 2020 with a conceptual plan for a 21-building industrial development that would have included a corporate campus and an industrial business park.
The plan took nine months to complete and ran up to $1 million, Braich said at the time. There was no formal application made to the city and it didn't come before council.
However, a community plan amendment to designate 297 acres of waterfront land as a comprehensive planning area required a two-year study that restricted development permits until its completion.
A letter written in 2020 by Martini Group president Thomas Martini addressed how the “uncertainty regarding the district’s timelines” killed their interest in submitting a formal application.
Braich says the economic impact of the Martini deal would have far exceeded the Cade industrial park that broke ground in 2024. He said the Martini agreement was the only one the family has ever signed off on, despite getting close with several groups.
The Braich family has owned the property since 1950, when Kenny's father purchased it.
"We're stewards of the lands. But as stewards, we're very protective. I'm 60 years old, and that dirt is in my veins," Braich said.
