The Ottawa City Council has launched a $ 332 million plan to demolish and replace the stands and arena of the stadium on the north side of Lansdown’s TD Place, but the mayor says this is not the council’s last word before the plan goes ahead.
Councilors voted 17 to 7 on Wednesday at a city council meeting to allow city staff to move the plan forward to the design stage and complete the public consultation, and Mayor Jim Watson told councilors that no irrevocable decisions were made with the vote.
“Some people have been told by council members that the deal is done. That’s not true, “Watson said.
The vote means staff could spend $ 8 million to move to the next stage, which includes asking developers to show interest in buying the right to build 1,200 apartments above the stadium, which the city expects to bring in $ 43.5 million. upgrades.
VOTE: The Council approved the Lansdowne 2.0 report by 17 to 7 votes. pic.twitter.com/4epHwqElNn
– @ KatePorterCBC
Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group unveiled a plan in late April called Lansdowne 2.0, which included rebuilding the Civic Center arena as a venue for medium-sized events.
The group, which owns the Ottawa Redblacks football team and the Ottawa 67 youth hockey team, was experiencing financial difficulties during the pandemic, and the council agreed it needed to find ways to boost site visitors to make its partnership with the city more financial. viable.
Watson said the arena and the north stands were “on their feet” and the rain fell over the arena’s roof during an event he attended the night before. He wished, in retrospect, that these aging facilities had been replaced when the site was rebuilt a decade ago.
WATCH The mayor says there is no more “understanding” in Lansdowne Park as the council approves $ 8 million for a design plan
The mayor says there is no more “understanding” in Lansdowne Park as the council approves $ 8 million for a design plan
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson says $ 8 million will go to developing a plan to replace the north stands and arena at Lansdown’s TD Place, although the final decision to continue these projects will be at the next council.
Knoxdale-Maryvale County. Keith Egley even picked up a piece of asphalt he had picked up on the first sod at the time, and said they should have been “bolder” but could do the repairs now so no future adviser could hold a piece of tribune or roof. in the arena.
Officials later assured the public that the buildings were safe.
Watson told councilors that the city could not be “blurred” as spending would rise due to inflation alone, and pointed to critics who said he wanted Lansdowne to fail.
The mayor also stressed that the new city council will have the power to decide not to continue, and expressed hope that this will be an election issue.
WATCH “We should have been braver,” the Lansdowne Park adviser said
“We should have been braver,” the Lansdowne Park adviser said
count. Keith Egley says now is the time to plan for the future of Lansdown Park, citing past inaction on renovation and development.
Menard fails to stop the vote
County of Kichisipi. Jeff Leper said the city must first find out if Ottawa residents actually support Lansdowne 2.0 before spending millions on a vision he said was “made behind closed doors.”
Sean Menard, a councilor from the capital’s Gleb and Lansdown area, said Lansdown’s future was cemented Wednesday by approving a business case and financial model and providing a $ 332 million budget for the project.
Menard even tried to push back the vote altogether until the new city council took office and public consultations were held. His movement failed.
“This file is just getting really tiring,” Menard said, disappointed after a particularly tense conversation with the city manager.
“It simply came to our notice then. Every time people don’t consult properly or are not heard … And if you just did it differently … then we would be in a much better place. “
Menard also called the claim that the proposal was “revenue-neutral” for the city, calling it untrue. The city is indeed planning to issue $ 239 million in new debt to fund Lansdowne 2.0 and service it in part with new property taxes and additional ticket fees.
Possible roof for north stands
Following this debate, the board accelerated a number of proposals presented by advisers, such as a request from the Auditor General to proactively review the plan.
This office will also study the impact on traffic from the addition of 1,200 new apartments in high towers. The lack of much affordable housing in these future buildings has also sparked debate.
count. Catherine McKenney tried to claim 20 percent of the very affordable housing in Lansdowne, saying it should not be just a “game for the rich.” Instead, the Council decided that any future builder of high-rise buildings should work with a non-profit housing provider.
WATCH Leiper opposes spending $ 8 million on “potentially fruitless” plan for Lansdowne before public participation
Leiper opposes spending $ 8 million on “potentially fruitless” plan for Lansdowne before public participation
count. Jeff Leper said he was opposed to allocating $ 8 million to a plan to renovate Lansdowne Park because that plan could change when residents have a chance to decide.
The city will also consider the possibility of the public using the green roof of the future arena, something that is not in the current plan.
The plan also includes rebuilding the grandstands on the north side – OSEG says this is the biggest problem with hotkeys for Lansdowne residents – without the current partial roof, because it would be expensive.
Staff will check to see if the north side can remain covered.
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