Ottawa City Council has launched a $ 332 million plan to demolish and replace the stadium and arena stands on the north side at Tans Place in Lansdowne, but the mayor says it is not the last word of the council before the plan goes ahead.
Councilors voted Wednesday 17-7 at the city council meeting to allow city staff to advance the plan to the design stage and complete the public consultation, and Mayor Jim Watson told councilors that ” no irrevocable decisions were made “with the vote.
“Council members have told some people that the deal is done. That’s not true,” Watson said.
The vote means staff could spend $ 8 million to move on to the next stage, which includes asking developers to show interest in buying the right to develop 1,200 apartments at the stadium, with which the city counts on providing 43, $ 5 million for improvements.
VOTE: The Council approves the report on Lansdowne 2.0 by a vote of 17 to 7. pic.twitter.com/4epHwqElNn
– @KatePorterCBC
The Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group had unveiled a plan in late April called Lansdowne 2.0, which involved rebuilding the civic center arena as a venue that could hold medium-sized events.
The group, which owns the Ottawa Redblacks football team and the Ottawa 67 junior hockey team, had been struggling financially during the pandemic, and the council agreed that it should find ways to boost visitors to the Ottawa Redblacks team. place to make its association with the city more economically viable.
Watson said the arena and the north side bleachers were “in their final stages” and rain had fallen on the roof of the arena during an event he attended the night before. He wished, in retrospect, that those aged facilities had been replaced when the site was rebuilt a decade ago.
TARGET | The mayor says there are no more “caussos” in Lansdowne Park, as the council approves $ 8 million for the design plan
The mayor says there are no more “caussos” in Lansdowne Park, as the council approves $ 8 million for the design plan
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson says the $ 8 million will be used to develop a plan to replace the north side bleachers and arena at Lansdowne TD Place, although the final decision was made. moving forward with these projects will fall to the next board.
Knoxdale-Merivale County. Keith Egli even lifted a piece of asphalt he had picked up at the start of construction at the time and said they should have been “bolder” but could do the repairs now, so no future. counselor could hold a piece of a bleachers or a roof of sand. .
Later, staff assured the public that the buildings were safe.
Watson told councilors the city could not “double” as costs would only rise due to inflation, and pointed to critics who he believed wanted Lansdowne to fail.
The mayor also stressed that a new city council would have the power to decide not to proceed, and expressed hope that it would be an electoral issue.
TARGET | “We should have been more daring,” says the councilor about Lansdowne Park
“We should have been more daring,” says the councilor about Lansdowne Park
Coun. Keith Egli says now is the time to plan for the future of Lansdowne Park, citing past inaction in repairs and development.
Menard fails to stop voting
Kitchissippi County. Jeff Leiper said the city should first find out if Ottawa residents really support Lansdowne 2.0 before spending millions on a vision he said was “created behind closed doors.”
Shawn Menard, the capital district councilor representing the Glebe and Lansdowne area, said Lansdowne’s future was consolidating on Wednesday by approving a business case and financial model, as well as giving the budget authority $ 332 million for the project.
Menard even tried to push the vote forward until the new city council began its work, and public consultations were held. His motion failed.
“This case is getting very tiring,” said a frustrated Menard after a particularly tense exchange with the city administrator.
“Every time, that’s a bouquet through. Every time people aren’t properly consulted or not listened to … And if they did it differently … then we’d be much better. Place.”
Menard also criticized the claim that the proposal was “revenue-neutral” for the city, calling it false. The city plans to issue $ 239 million in new debt to fund Lansdowne 2.0, and the service in part with new property taxes and ticket surcharges.
Possible cover for steps on the north side
Following this debate, the council accelerated a series of motions tabled by councilors, such as asking the auditor general to proactively review the plan.
This office will also study the impact of traffic on adding 1,200 new apartments in high-rise towers. The lack of very affordable housing within these future buildings also attracted debate.
Coun. Catherine McKenney tried to demand 20 per cent of affordable housing in Lansdowne, saying it shouldn’t just be a “playground for the rich”. The Council decided, however, that any future skyscraper developer should work with a non-profit housing provider.
TARGET | Leiper opposes spending $ 8 million on “potentially unsuccessful” plan for Lansdowne before public contribution
Leiper opposes spending $ 8 million on “potentially unsuccessful” plan for Lansdowne before public contribution
Coun. Jeff Leiper said he is opposed to committing $ 8 million to a Lansdowne Park remodeling plan because that plan may change when residents have a chance to step in.
The city will also now consider letting the public use the green roof of the future pavilion, which is not in the current plan.
The plan also includes rebuilding the north side bleachers (OSEG says this is the biggest problem for residents over Lansdowne) without the current partial roof because it would be expensive.
Staff will consider whether the north side can remain covered.