Lansdowne Park Redevelopment Phase 1 | Completed

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Todays Citizen editorial--telling it like it is.

Delaying progress

Ottawa Citizen March 22, 2011 7:17 AM Comments (11)

Many large cities in this stormy economic climate would be screaming to proceed on a development as attractive as that proposed at Lansdowne. But then this is Ottawa.

Here in the national capital the civic business is politics and nowhere is it being practised with more expertise than with this project in the Glebe. The city and the surrounding neighbourhood had been dallying about redeveloping the asphalt park along Bank Street for years until a group of prominent local businessmen came along to propose a refurbished stadium, a unique shopping area, commercial-residential buildings, a park and preserved heritage structures on the site. And talking about niche shopping -organic grocer Whole Foods is locating there with more interesting businesses expected in the future.

Nature abhors a vacuum so Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group stepped into the breach to salvage a piece of civic property that was just going to waste. Those businessmen came forward with a project that should appeal to everyone: a mix of commercial, residential, sports and green space that will be an asset to the community.

Were a request for proposal held for Lansdowne, it's highly unlikely that any group could triumph over OSEG with its mix of deep pockets, a CFL franchise, a possible soccer team, expert sports management, deep community involvement and superb business acumen. The redeveloped Lansdowne will be a major economic boost to an Ottawa economy that badly needs diversification as an adjunct to its strong government base and will provide an outstanding location for a wide variety of spectacles in a sometimes entertainment-challenged community.

Opposition to the project, largely focused in the Glebe, is based on long-standing grievances with Lansdowne. Local residents resent the noise from the stadium, street parking occupied by eventgoers and the large rowdy crowds in the neighbourhood going to games and the like.

But Glebe residents bought into that situation. Events have been held at Lansdowne for more than a century so the crowds and noise predate everyone purchasing their homes in that neighbourhood. Perhaps residents have been spoiled in recent years by the quiet coming from a crumbling stadium and the demise of the Central Canada Exhibition. A park of asphalt and rotting structures is the likely result if the OSEG proposal fails. That might make some Glebe residents happy, but it's a poor use of a civic asset.

OSEG's Roger Greenberg is right when he says the current court action by the antidevelopment Friends of Lansdowne is a delaying tactic. The Friends are within their rights to battle the project, but are doing Ottawans a disservice by delaying this entertainment and economic stimulus.

With friends like those, who needs enemies?

[Cre47]

And possibly another negative impact caused because of this lunatic fringe

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=358989

The Canadian Football League's expansion team in Ottawa might not be ready for the start of the 2013 season after all.

According to the Ottawa Sun, delays because of a legal challenge could holdup the Lansdowne Park redevelopment enough for the CFL franchise to have to start play in 2014 instead.

The delay stems from a group called the Friends of Lansdowne Park. They made a legal challenge to the redevelopment and that challenge was supposed to be heard during the week of April 4. That challenge has been pushed back to late June.

"Certainly our goal is to try to keep to that 2013 season," Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group's Roger Greenberg told the Sun, while also saying that because of the construction delays that he was "not sure how achievable" a 2013 start would be.

The construction of a remodeled and rebuilt Frank Clair Stadium was supposed to begin in June, but that will be on hold until a decision is made on the legal challenge.

"The project is going to get built," Greenberg told the Sun. "If it gets built a little bit later than we had originally proposed, OK, so what? It's not the end of the world."

[S-Man]

Notice the number of bright bulbs complaining of the Citizens 'biased news reporting', not realizing it was an opinion editorial, not a news story. HeyJennX being the worst. I'm wondering if she ever leaves her computer of if she somehow gets a salary touting the FoL's mission.

Unrelated note: Welcome a long-time reader to the message board!

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by S-Man

Notice the number of bright bulbs complaining of the Citizens 'biased news reporting', not realizing it was an opinion editorial, not a news story. HeyJennX being the worst. I'm wondering if she ever leaves her computer of if she somehow gets a salary touting the FoL's mission.

Unrelated note: Welcome a long-time reader to the message board!

As much as i am not a fan of fol my bigger issue is some supporters they just don't get it a vast majoirty don't wnata park.

[Cre47]

Originally Posted by S-Man

Notice the number of bright bulbs complaining of the Citizens 'biased news reporting', not realizing it was an opinion editorial, not a news story. HeyJennX being the worst. I'm wondering if she ever leaves her computer of if she somehow gets a salary touting the FoL's mission.

Unrelated note: Welcome a long-time reader to the message board!

And also the Conservancy gang spamming the Citizen comments section about their proposal once again after doing the same on CBC and the Sun (and not surprised if it was also the case on CTV Ottawa).

Edit: And as I say this, most of their comments are being reviewed and will probably be removed.

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by S-Man

Notice the number of bright bulbs complaining of the Citizens 'biased news reporting', not realizing it was an opinion editorial, not a news story. HeyJennX being the worst. I'm wondering if she ever leaves her computer of if she somehow gets a salary touting the FoL's mission.

Unrelated note: Welcome a long-time reader to the message board!

Welcome S-Man, I look forward to more frequent and more vicious FOL-bashing in the future. I don't like everything in the OSEG proposal, but I hate every ounce of aweful bias that the FOL try to pass off as "keeping their eye on the man". NIMBYs of the worst kind....NIMBYs with money and political clout.

Put a shovel in the ground already!....or at least tear down the South stands. I doubt anyone's plan (OSEG or otherwise) is going to include that crumbling piece of crap.

[S-Man]

Thank you, I appreciate the welcome.
Not everything about the OSEG deal warms me to the core either, but people have to realize - there won't be anything after this. If the court case makes the city go back to an RFP, OSEG will take off, and no one will take its place in the competition. There won't be a competition. Then, with Friends of Lansdowne getting what they want (no stadium, no development, no people, no traffic), the rest of Ottawa will watch the site (sorry - "Heritage jewel") rot for a number of other decades. Ottawa is fast becoming the laughing stock for not being able to make a decision of follow through with anything.
Stagnancy seems to be the goal for so many 'community advocates' and special interest groups these days. It's as if ambition, vision, or improvement is something OTHER cities do, and we don't want to be like them, because we're so much smarter.
Anyone from another city staying here and reading the news for a few weeks (and the associated reader comments) would think everyone is nuts.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Women's World Cup test looms for Ottawa
By OTTAWA SUN, QMI AGENCY

Last Updated: March 30, 2011 12:17am

.Canadian Soccer Association officials will be sizing up Lansdowne Park before the end of April as they inspect cities in the running to host matches for the 2015 Women’s World Cup.

The host cities won’t be revealed until 2012, Canadian Soccer Association general secretary Peter Montopoli told QMI Agency on Tuesday.

CSA executives have completed their first inspection of a bid city with a tour of B.C. Place Stadium, which is vying with Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium to host the final. The CSA delegation will also visit Winnipeg, Montreal, Halifax and Moncton in the coming month. FIFA evaluators will visit the cities in September

Well I sure hope they emphasize the plans for the new stadium when showing these people around. The thing is, if we win some games based on a new 24, 000 seat stadium , we will have to deliver a 24, 000 seat stadium, or forever lose our credibility with national and international sport bodies.

[JeffB]

Originally Posted by LeadingEdgeBoomer

Well I sure hope they emphasize the plans for the new stadium when showing these people around. The thing is, if we win some games based on a new 24, 000 seat stadium , we will have to deliver a 24, 000 seat stadium, or forever lose our credibility with national and international sport bodies.

I am sure that is the emphasis of the proposal. Just showing them what is there now (especially since there should be some familiarity from the the Mens U20 of 2007) is not going to cut it. They may have some suggestions to improve the current plan, such as having some additional temporary stands at the ends, but I am expect the new plan will impress them.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

uOttawa and Carleton are talking to each other about playong outdoor hockey between the Gee-Gees and Ravens at the new revitialized Lansdowne Park.

Ottawa schools ponder CIS' own Winter Classic


Gee-Gees, Ravens men's teams could play outdoor game as early as 2014

Jaehoon Kim — The Fulcrum (University of Ottawa)


OTTAWA (CUP) — The NHL's annual Winter Classic has been a major draw since its inception in 2008.

When the University of Michigan and Michigan State University men's hockey teams played “The Big Chill at the Big House” on Dec. 11, 2010, the announced attendance was an incredible 113,411 fans.

And now, an outdoor hockey game between the Ottawa Gee-Gees and Carleton Ravens men’s teams could happen in the nation's capital as early as 2014.

“With Carleton and Ottawa, we’re always exploring opportunities to bring visibility, such as the Hoops Classic in basketball,” Gee-Gees athletic director Luc Gelineau said.

One of the biggest obstacles surrounding the organization of such an event deals with the financial side of things. Renting an official, NHL-sized outdoor ice rink with proper boards and a Zamboni would be costly, to say the least.

“There would be an interest if we can make it a viable financial project. If we’re just trying to have a temporary ice planned, put up the boards and so forth, for one game, we know that it’s not a viable option,” Gelineau explained.

“On the other hand, for example, the NHL brings in an event at the in-progress Lansdowne Park and they have a set-up there — after their game, we could probably use it the following day. So it would be in that model that we could consider it.”

Despite initial rumours that a hockey game could potentially be held on the Rideau Canal, there are too many security and safety risks on the Canal to make it a realistic host site.

[B]The most likely venue for Ottawa’s “Winter Classic” would be the aforementioned, newly-renovated Lansdowne Park. Some hope this prospective match could become a part of the Winterlude festival.[/B
]
“2014 is probably the time of the optimistic calendar when the Lansdowne Park would be renovated and the new facility would be up,” Gelineau said. “The level of hockey that our university teams have — you need specific standards to make sure that everything is safe.”

Due to all the potential logistical problems, the possibility of this event actually occurring is still small. Yet, an outdoor hockey game between Ottawa and Carleton would surely bring more exposure to Canadian Interuniversity Sport hockey — a brand of hockey that doesn’t have anywhere near the high profile of professional and major-junior leagues.

“If you have this type of event, something that is new, people would be interested in going out and participating,” said Gelineau.

"It’s the same as in the [United] States where they have 60,000 people attending the games. It’s because it’s new and different. It attracts attention. Media gets behind it. It’s more like a festival that is organized around that event. That brings more visibility and more media coverage," he added.

“This is a nice project, but there are many components to it that we have to consider.”

-30-

[JeffB]

Originally Posted by LeadingEdgeBoomer

uOttawa and Carleton are talking to each other about playong outdoor hockey between the Gee-Gees and Ravens at the new revitialized Lansdowne Park.

A CIS game would probably not be a big draw as a stand alone game. However a double header with the 67's or Senators would probably get more people to watch the game. More likely the 67's since they are tied to OSEG and the Senators are reluctant to use Frank Clair since it won out over their stadium.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

JeffB wrote

A CIS game would probably not be a big draw as a stand alone game

Not so sure-----The MBNA Hoops classic basketball that takes place at Scotiabank Place every winter between Ottawa and Carleton has drawn between 8000-10000 fans. LP is closer to both unis than SBP, and hockey in Canada has a wider audience than bouncy -ball, Last November's Yates Cup football game drew 7200 to LP. It was between uOttawa and Western. If Ottawa and Carleton had met, bringing in supporters of both unis, that number would have been higher. As you probably know , some Carleton alumni are well on the way to reviving football at Carleton.

P.S--the hockey game would likely be a double-header with both the ravens and gee-gees mens and womens teams. That is what they do at the Hoops Classic at SBP.

[JeffB]

Originally Posted by LeadingEdgeBoomer

JeffB wrote



Not so sure-----The MBNA Hoops classic basketball that takes place at Scotiabank Place every winter between Ottawa and Carleton has drawn between 8000-10000 fans. LP is closer to both unis than SBP, and hockey in Canada has a wider audience than bouncy -ball, Last November's Yates Cup football game drew 7200 to LP. It was between uOttawa and Western. If Ottawa and Carleton had met, bringing in supporters of both unis, that number would have been higher. As you probably know , some Carleton alumni are well on the way to reviving football at Carleton.

Didn't know about the basketball game. Interesting information. I still think a double header with another game would be the best strategy as putting in the rink would be the same cost for two games as it would be for one.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Sory jeff--I was editing my post at exactly the same time as you were sending yours--i added that the hockey game would likely be a double header with both mens and womens teams--just as the Hoops classic is.

[MountainView]

Some Good News:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/City+Ottawa...h+Lansdowne+opponents/4609715/story.html

City of Ottawa, developer agree to concessions with 11 of 14 Lansdowne opponents

By Joanne Chianello, Ottawa Citizen

OTTAWA — The city and its partner in the Lansdowne Park redevelopment — the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group — settled on Wednesday with 11 of the 14 parties appealing the project to the Ontario Municipal Board.

The concessions include giving $300,000 to the Glebe BIA and $30,000 to community groups to help them through what will surely be a disrupting construction session when the Lansdowne project gets underway. The city and OSEG will split the costs equally.

Some of OSEG’s concessions seem fairly major, in particular a plan to eliminate nine-storey residential buildings that would have faced Holmwood Avenue.

The town houses along Holmwood are still going ahead, but the commercial buildings in behind them will only be about four storeys high — the same height as the townhouses.

In addition, there will be a small public square at the corner of Bank Street and Holmwood, and the condo tower going up at the intersection will be capped at 12 storeys instead of the previously planned 14.

Also, vehicular access to Lansdowne will now be restricted from Holmwood, addressing one of the major concerns of that street’s residents.

The zonings for another two commercial buildings on the site will also be reduced, but that would have affected future development and not what was planned immediately.

There are now only three individuals left who are continuing with their appeals of the project, but city officials do not believe the cases will take long to hear

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Good news indeed! It shows that the partnership has been willing to listen to those who have concerns and also make major concessions when such concessions are possible--- eliminating some buildings and reducing the height of others--money to the BIA and community groups to help them adjust to the construction period.
I just heard on the radio that the partnership still hopes to come to an agreement with the other three complainants before it goes to the OMB.

That will leave only the FOL court challenge in the way. I trust that all those who are associated with the Glebe BIA and the other Glebe community groups that have come to agreement, see that it is no longer in their best interests to contribute any money to the FOL.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by LeadingEdgeBoomer

Good news indeed! It shows that the partnership has been willing to listen to those who have concerns and also make major concessions when such concessions are possible--- eliminating some buildings and reducing the height of others--money to the BIA and community groups to help them adjust to the construction period.
I just heard on the radio that the partnership still hopes to come to an agreement with the other three complainants before it goes to the OMB.

That will leave only the FOL court challenge in the way. I trust that all those who are associated with the Glebe BIA and the other Glebe community groups that have come to agreement, see that it is no longer in their best interests to contribute any money to the FOL.

I can't see how they will be a case if they reach a deal on all 14 demands.

[S-Man]

I understand giving cash to the BIA, but the community groups? How is a community group economically affected by nearby construction? They shouldn't be getting a cent, and I think the residential component of this plan was scaled back too far. So, walkups on Holmwood, and one stumpy tower on the corner? How does that make the site a day-round living area? Is the hotel still a part of this plan? With it's location closer to the bridge, I would hope it wouldn't get chopped as well. Isn't the city worried about a lack of hotel space due to the convention centre?
I think they should have kept some more density, that's all.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

30,000 bucks to the community groups other than the BIA. The city gives grants to such groups all the time. This is just more of the same, and a sop to them for withdrawing the appeals. No big deal really. interesting that the lawyers for the complainants advised them to settle for compromises.

I remember reading some time ago that the hotel idea had been dropped. A consultants study told OSEG that a hotel in that area would be not likely be a money maker. I do not know what they based their findings on, but OSEG felt they were sound enough to drop the idea for the foreseeable future.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by S-Man

I understand giving cash to the BIA, but the community groups? How is a community group economically affected by nearby construction? They shouldn't be getting a cent, and I think the residential component of this plan was scaled back too far. So, walkups on Holmwood, and one stumpy tower on the corner? How does that make the site a day-round living area? Is the hotel still a part of this plan? With it's location closer to the bridge, I would hope it wouldn't get chopped as well. Isn't the city worried about a lack of hotel space due to the convention centre?
I think they should have kept some more density, that's all.

I agree that scaling down the residential component is the wrong way to be going. The residential is key to making this site into a lively mixed-use area.
However, based on the reports I read, the total number of residential units will still be the same (capped at 280). It seemed that the building that was previously intended to house the hotel may end up being residential.