LeBreton Flats 2.0 (RendezVous LeBreton) | Cancelled

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by acottawa

To my knowledge, nobody has ever proposed a major attraction that would draw people from great distances.

People don't travel to see the arena itself but what is going on at the arena. Instead of leaving all of those visitors in suburban Kanata they will leave the arena in central parts of the city to spend money at bars, restaurants, hotels, etc.

Ottawa has a lot of very good museums (including one already on the flats). They close at 5 and much of the city goes dead. An arena would be one of the few attractions in central Ottawa active after 5 pm.

I can't let this pass.

Arenas and stadiums are only magnets of activity when there is actually an event on. I expect that more than half of the days of the year, there will be no event going on. And in the daytime, rarely will there be an event. Even when an event is taking place, it will only be an active area before and after the event. Generally speaking, unless there are other attractions nearby, restaurants and bars have a difficult time surviving in areas surrounding stadiums and arenas that are empty more often than not.

Yes, we can state that museums are only open until 5 pm but at least they are open all day almost every day of the year. It is still far from ideal.

The solution is mixed use development that has as much diversity as possible. This can only become Byward Market II if we can attract tourists, people from across the city and locals. This means, we need to make it worth it for tourists to walk here. The War Museum is one step but that is not enough. There needs to be more attractions. For greater Ottawa residents, there needs to be reasons to come here. An arena will help but that is open only a minority of the time. LRT will help but it won't work if we don't have Park n Ride lots along the route. Our plans don't have enough of them on the planned route even with Phase 2. None west of downtown. There has to be more reasons than the Arena to come here. Having some offices will also help bring people here every day. And of course, lots of local residents within walking distance. So condos will help, but don't put up a wall of them blocking out all the sun light and creating wind tunnels.

The proposed bar and restaurant district will be hard to establish with nothing to start with. The atmosphere and views need to be special (can we see Parliament?) and if we want people to come here from downtown, we better have good pedestrian routes in addition to LRT. In spring, summer and fall, we need to allow people to walk. And if we want people to walk, we need to animate the west half of downtown. That is another challenge. If there is even a couple of blocks of dead streetscape, that will discourage many pedestrians. That was one of the reasons for filling in Bank Street at Lansdowne to connect The Glebe with Old Ottawa South.

What ever happened to the monument to the Stanley Cup. Is it now a dead idea? If so, resurrect it. Perfect idea for the square in front of the arena. The Stanley Cup was prepared for Lord Stanley when he was in Ottawa and we should celebrate this important part of our heritage. If we spending billions on this development, surely we can afford $1M for a really good monument for the Stanley Cup.

[McC]

where can you get a "really good monument" for $1million? you must have a really good monuments guy; you should let the City know.

[dhottawa729]

The arena is probably the most nationally-significant thing that has been proposed. It will become a major part of the Ottawa skyline and shown on televised North-American broadcasts of NHL games 2-3 times a week. It will be a major landmark prominently captured in the foreground of photos representing Ottawa as a city and the Nation's Capital. If the Sens made it the Stanley Cup finals as the only Canadian team, the whole country would know about this building. People from all over the country (and world) will visit the building for a variety major events. It will be listed on the tour schedules of the world's top entertainers. Many more people will use this building than anything else I can imagine, and so that's the significance. A new science and tech museum, for example, wouldn't accomplish any of those things and nobody outside of Ottawa would care about it.

[m0nkyman]

Originally Posted by Arcologist

Wasn't the plan to have something of national/international significance on the site? Museums and tourist attractions accomplish this... condos and an NHL arena do not.

I've travelled to many great cities for their attractions: yes, to Toronto for the Ripley's Aquarium, and their zoo and theme park; to NYC for the museums and iconic skyscrapers; Boston for the waterfront, etc... But I've NEVER made travel plans based on a visit to a city's arena. For example, I will NOT be travelling to Edmonton to check out their new, state-of-the-art NHL arena and ICE District (which to me, is comparable to what is being proposed here at LeBreton), and I don't suspect too many other people will either. So how many people are going to come to Ottawa to check out our NHL arena and nice neighbourhood?!? I doubt it will be many...

Arena will draw from our hinterland and expand it. Sudbury. North Bay, Pembroke, Kingston, Maniwaki and all the small towns between.

True, It's unlikely we will get people from Paris, France planning visits to Ottawa for the arena, but we will getting more people coming into the downtown core to the arena, and if we do it right, they'll be excited by the urban areas surrounding it.

And the people coming from overseas to visit our truly world class attractions like Parliament, the Canal, Ottawa River whitewater rafting etc., this gives them another 'bonus' thing to see while they are here.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

I can't let this pass.

Arenas and stadiums are only magnets of activity when there is actually an event on. I expect that more than half of the days of the year, there will be no event going on. And in the daytime, rarely will there be an event. Even when an event is taking place, it will only be an active area before and after the event. Generally speaking, unless there are other attractions nearby, restaurants and bars have a difficult time surviving in areas surrounding stadiums and arenas that are empty more often than not.

Yes, we can state that museums are only open until 5 pm but at least they are open all day almost every day of the year. It is still far from ideal.

The solution is mixed use development that has as much diversity as possible. This can only become Byward Market II if we can attract tourists, people from across the city and locals. This means, we need to make it worth it for tourists to walk here. The War Museum is one step but that is not enough. There needs to be more attractions. For greater Ottawa residents, there needs to be reasons to come here. An arena will help but that is open only a minority of the time. LRT will help but it won't work if we don't have Park n Ride lots along the route. Our plans don't have enough of them on the planned route even with Phase 2. None west of downtown. There has to be more reasons than the Arena to come here. Having some offices will also help bring people here every day. And of course, lots of local residents within walking distance. So condos will help, but don't put up a wall of them blocking out all the sun light and creating wind tunnels.

The proposed bar and restaurant district will be hard to establish with nothing to start with. The atmosphere and views need to be special (can we see Parliament?) and if we want people to come here from downtown, we better have good pedestrian routes in addition to LRT. In spring, summer and fall, we need to allow people to walk. And if we want people to walk, we need to animate the west half of downtown. That is another challenge. If there is even a couple of blocks of dead streetscape, that will discourage many pedestrians. That was one of the reasons for filling in Bank Street at Lansdowne to connect The Glebe with Old Ottawa South.

Totally agree on the need for better walking routes.

Even in a no-playoff May, the CTC has 5 major concerts booked (James Taylor, Pearl Jam, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and Carrie Underwood). That's close to 100k people a downtown arena could have brought to the Flats this month. If the Sens had had a decent playoff run, it would have brought several more home dates, plus large crowds that could have gathered to watch road games (look at what "Jurassic Park" outside the ACC looks like on Raptors road games). That's a pretty good revenue hook to attract bars and restaurants. Add 40 regular season hockey games, 50-60 concert dates a year, several specialty shows (monster trucks, harlem globetrotters, circus, etc) two weeks of bluesfest and a bar/restaurant setting up on the shop on the flats could probably expect an event-driven crowd 1/3 to 1/2 the time. Probably it will be less lively on non-event days, but all of those bars and restaurants will still be open.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Totally agree on the need for better walking routes.

Even in a no-playoff May, the CTC has 5 major concerts booked (James Taylor, Pearl Jam, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and Carrie Underwood). That's close to 100k people a downtown arena could have brought to the Flats this month. If the Sens had had a decent playoff run, it would have brought several more home dates, plus large crowds that could have gathered to watch road games (look at what "Jurassic Park" outside the ACC looks like on Raptors road games). That's a pretty good revenue hook to attract bars and restaurants. Add 40 regular season hockey games, 50-60 concert dates a year, several specialty shows (monster trucks, harlem globetrotters, circus, etc) two weeks of bluesfest and a bar/restaurant setting up on the shop on the flats could probably expect an event-driven crowd 1/3 to 1/2 the time. Probably it will be less lively on non-event days, but all of those bars and restaurants will still be open.

I think it is great that the arena is going here, but arena alone is not enough to support a lively restaurant and bar district. If it is dead during the daytime every day and every second evening, then your chances of successful businesses is greatly reduced. There needs to some coordination between this project, the Zibi project and the waterfront revitalization and there needs to be other reasons for going here beyond the arena. Hopefully, also a proper and first class First Nations Cultural Centre on Victoria Island. This seems a natural. Also something to honour the lumber industry heritage of the area. That seems a good choice within the Zibi project. I also see the opportunities for some of the most beautiful sunsets in Ottawa from points on the waterfront. Now if we can only facilitate this with look outs, and restaurant patios. This could also be done above the escarpment in order connect downtown to this area. The John A. MacDonald Parkway should be somewhat narrowed, with a number of traffic signals to allow for easy pedestrian crossing and should include colourful flower planters and banners throughout this area. The idea is to slow down traffic and make it more visually inviting for both pedestrians and drivers. This should become one of the iconic entrances to downtown Ottawa. I want this area to be as attractive as possible. As it stands, it is like a former battlefield criss-crossed with major arterial roads. A pedestrian desert.

I guess I continue to dream in Technicolor.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

I can't let this pass.

Arenas and stadiums are only magnets of activity when there is actually an event on. I expect that more than half of the days of the year, there will be no event going on. And in the daytime, rarely will there be an event. Even when an event is taking place, it will only be an active area before and after the event. Generally speaking, unless there are other attractions nearby, restaurants and bars have a difficult time surviving in areas surrounding stadiums and arenas that are empty more often than not.

Yes, we can state that museums are only open until 5 pm but at least they are open all day almost every day of the year. It is still far from ideal.

The solution is mixed use development that has as much diversity as possible. This can only become Byward Market II if we can attract tourists, people from across the city and locals. This means, we need to make it worth it for tourists to walk here. The War Museum is one step but that is not enough. There needs to be more attractions. For greater Ottawa residents, there needs to be reasons to come here. An arena will help but that is open only a minority of the time. LRT will help but it won't work if we don't have Park n Ride lots along the route. Our plans don't have enough of them on the planned route even with Phase 2. None west of downtown. There has to be more reasons than the Arena to come here. Having some offices will also help bring people here every day. And of course, lots of local residents within walking distance. So condos will help, but don't put up a wall of them blocking out all the sun light and creating wind tunnels.

The proposed bar and restaurant district will be hard to establish with nothing to start with. The atmosphere and views need to be special (can we see Parliament?) and if we want people to come here from downtown, we better have good pedestrian routes in addition to LRT. In spring, summer and fall, we need to allow people to walk. And if we want people to walk, we need to animate the west half of downtown. That is another challenge. If there is even a couple of blocks of dead streetscape, that will discourage many pedestrians. That was one of the reasons for filling in Bank Street at Lansdowne to connect The Glebe with Old Ottawa South.

What ever happened to the monument to the Stanley Cup. Is it now a dead idea? If so, resurrect it. Perfect idea for the square in front of the arena. The Stanley Cup was prepared for Lord Stanley when he was in Ottawa and we should celebrate this important part of our heritage. If we spending billions on this development, surely we can afford $1M for a really good monument for the Stanley Cup.

I'll start with the Stanley Cup monument; they had trouble raising the private money necessary so the Feds and City kicked in the final few million to build it on Sparks at Elgin. It will be unveiled in 2017, the 125th year of the cup, 100th year of the NHL, 25th year of the modern Senators and 90th year since Ottawa's last Stanley Cup win (nice that it all lines up).

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-...-sparks-street

Back to LB and the arena. When one says we will only see events half the year, it doesn't sound that great, but, when we say this will bring 18,000+ people downtown an average of 3-4 times a week, well that's something else. And the fact that these events are during the evening is also great for the Confederation and Trillium Lines which would otherwise only be used during rush-hour. It gives even more of a purpose to transit.

You bring up the point that nothing will happen outside the arena during events however, if you look at Maple Leaf Square and bars and restaurants around the arena are packed during the games also. And that's for the worst team in the NHL (and granted, also the biggest market).

And the neighborhood should see success from the get thanks largely to Zibi which will be well into the first (possibly second?) phase by the time the Corel Centre 2.0 opens.

And the sightlines, if we compare Devcore's mixed-use area with Rendez-Vous overall, I think RV came up with a much better plan to protect and take advantage of the sightlines with varied heights, good spacing between buildings, covering the O-Train (no unsightly fences/catenaries blocking the view).

That said, I agree RV was missing one or two major day time, family oriented attractions. Something along the lines of a satellite Science and Tech Museum, a new home for the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame or a transit museum. Something. I do believe that this might be part of the negotiations between the NCC and RV.

I believe RV's shortcomings can be reviewed and dealt with easier than DCDLS's Land of Random Novelties.

[mykl]

On the subject of "no one travels for concerts", there are huge numbers of people who travel to Ottawa and Montreal for concerts and events from the Atlantic provinces, because these things tend to skip those provinces entirely.

[Temperance]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

I can't let this pass.

Arenas and stadiums are only magnets of activity when there is actually an event on. I expect that more than half of the days of the year, there will be no event going on. And in the daytime, rarely will there be an event. Even when an event is taking place, it will only be an active area before and after the event. Generally speaking, unless there are other attractions nearby, restaurants and bars have a difficult time surviving in areas surrounding stadiums and arenas that are empty more often than not.

Yes, we can state that museums are only open until 5 pm but at least they are open all day almost every day of the year. It is still far from ideal.

The solution is mixed use development that has as much diversity as possible. This can only become Byward Market II if we can attract tourists, people from across the city and locals. This means, we need to make it worth it for tourists to walk here. The War Museum is one step but that is not enough. There needs to be more attractions. For greater Ottawa residents, there needs to be reasons to come here. An arena will help but that is open only a minority of the time. LRT will help but it won't work if we don't have Park n Ride lots along the route. Our plans don't have enough of them on the planned route even with Phase 2. None west of downtown. There has to be more reasons than the Arena to come here. Having some offices will also help bring people here every day. And of course, lots of local residents within walking distance. So condos will help, but don't put up a wall of them blocking out all the sun light and creating wind tunnels.

The proposed bar and restaurant district will be hard to establish with nothing to start with. The atmosphere and views need to be special (can we see Parliament?) and if we want people to come here from downtown, we better have good pedestrian routes in addition to LRT. In spring, summer and fall, we need to allow people to walk. And if we want people to walk, we need to animate the west half of downtown. That is another challenge. If there is even a couple of blocks of dead streetscape, that will discourage many pedestrians. That was one of the reasons for filling in Bank Street at Lansdowne to connect The Glebe with Old Ottawa South.

I agree completely with this. I think the "bones" of the Rendez Vous proposal are good but the national significance thing and tourist draw are both pretty limited. I am also afraid that the area will be generally unappealing if it is just a forest of massive condos. None of this is inevitable but there needs to be something more than what we saw in the proposal.

[Radster]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

The atmosphere and views need to be special (can we see Parliament?)

Maybe a bit, but chances are, those views will be blocked by the beautiful, exhilarating, human scale, Holocaust Monument!

[Radster]

Originally Posted by Temperance

I agree completely with this. I think the "bones" of the Rendez Vous proposal are good but the national significance thing and tourist draw are both pretty limited. I am also afraid that the area will be generally unappealing if it is just a forest of massive condos. None of this is inevitable but there needs to be something more than what we saw in the proposal.

Like someone mentioned a couple pages ago. Lansdowne 2.0

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

I can't let this pass.

Arenas and stadiums are only magnets of activity when there is actually an event on. I expect that more than half of the days of the year, there will be no event going on. And in the daytime, rarely will there be an event. Even when an event is taking place, it will only be an active area before and after the event. Generally speaking, unless there are other attractions nearby, restaurants and bars have a difficult time surviving in areas surrounding stadiums and arenas that are empty more often than not.

Yes, we can state that museums are only open until 5 pm but at least they are open all day almost every day of the year. It is still far from ideal.

The solution is mixed use development that has as much diversity as possible. This can only become Byward Market II if we can attract tourists, people from across the city and locals. This means, we need to make it worth it for tourists to walk here. The War Museum is one step but that is not enough. There needs to be more attractions. For greater Ottawa residents, there needs to be reasons to come here. An arena will help but that is open only a minority of the time. LRT will help but it won't work if we don't have Park n Ride lots along the route. Our plans don't have enough of them on the planned route even with Phase 2. None west of downtown. There has to be more reasons than the Arena to come here. Having some offices will also help bring people here every day. And of course, lots of local residents within walking distance. So condos will help, but don't put up a wall of them blocking out all the sun light and creating wind tunnels.

The proposed bar and restaurant district will be hard to establish with nothing to start with. The atmosphere and views need to be special (can we see Parliament?) and if we want people to come here from downtown, we better have good pedestrian routes in addition to LRT. In spring, summer and fall, we need to allow people to walk. And if we want people to walk, we need to animate the west half of downtown. That is another challenge. If there is even a couple of blocks of dead streetscape, that will discourage many pedestrians. That was one of the reasons for filling in Bank Street at Lansdowne to connect The Glebe with Old Ottawa South.

What ever happened to the monument to the Stanley Cup. Is it now a dead idea? If so, resurrect it. Perfect idea for the square in front of the arena. The Stanley Cup was prepared for Lord Stanley when he was in Ottawa and we should celebrate this important part of our heritage. If we spending billions on this development, surely we can afford $1M for a really good monument for the Stanley Cup.

I believe that the plans have been updated and the proposed site has been shifted to Beechwood Cemetery.

[zzptichka]

Today I learnt that Lansdowne is a forest of massive condos.

[Richard Eade]

Maybe it would be more appropriate to have the monument to the cup of Lord Stanley of Preston on the extension of Preston Street, beside the NHL arena, instead of on Sparks Street.

[Kitchissippi]

I think the NCC should forbid commercial naming rights for the arena as part of the negotiations and insist that it be named after Lord Stanley, with a small (and free) permanent exhibit component on the Cup's history. That should make it a constant reminder to hockey fans where the Cup is from, more than a monument, and count for some "National Significance".

[McC]

Lord Stanley's Bowl (or just the Stanley Bowl, for short)?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

Maybe it would be more appropriate to have the monument to the cup of Lord Stanley of Preston on the extension of Preston Street, beside the NHL arena, instead of on Sparks Street.

Although I like the idea, having the monument next to the Senator's home rink might make it a little too partisan.

Sparks and Elgin is a good spot, near the long destroyed Russel Hotel where the trophy was initially offered.

[Horus]

From CBC Ottawa:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa...plan-1.3562836

First decade of RendezVous LeBreton plan would see arena, 3 neighbourhoods, much more
By Kate Porter, CBC News Posted: May 03, 2016 7:54 AM ET Last Updated: May 03, 2016 8:24 AM ET

The project manager for LeBreton Flats says his family traces its roots back to the area's pioneer, Philemon Wright, and that he's keen to restore the neighbourhood grid that once existed there.

"It's an area that I've been walking through all my life, saying, 'Why can't we fix this?'" says Graham Bird, who also managed the redevelopment at Lansdowne in the Glebe and Ottawa's downtown convention centre.

He says he's very comfortable with the list of buildings and public spaces RendezVous LeBreton plans to deliver in the coming decade.

Bird heads the project management firm that is working with the Ottawa Senators and the Trinity Development Group on their joint venture to redevelop the site.

The group learned last week it ranked highest of two proposals and will enter negotiations with the National Capital Commission some time after Wednesday, when the NCC again restricts them from speaking publicly about the project.

Most of the big pieces in the RendezVous LeBreton proposal are due to be finished in the project's first of three phases.

Bird says the hope is the arena can be built by 2021 or 2022, but the two NHL-sized hockey rinks at a Sensplex, the Abilities Centre, public parks and squares, and a restored heritage aqueduct should also be finished no later than 2026.

3 of 5 neighbourhoods expected in first phase

The RendezVous LeBreton plan is predicated on five distinct neighbourhoods, three of which are also slated to be built in the first phase. Quartier LeBreton and Pimisi will be located along Albert Street, while Aqueduct will hug the restored aqueduct in the centre of the redevelopment.

That will mean 1,400 new housing units in the next decade, says Bird.

Neighbourhoods called Bayview, on the western edge, and Asticou, near the war museum, are planned for future phases.

Development will be guided by a grid pattern that seeks to restore the historic roads and streets at LeBreton Flats, says Bird, who speaks passionately about the site's history and went to the registry office to pull up old maps.

"We've got some of the biggest constructors and developer partners and they can just start working in different directions," says Bird, who notes that Windmill Developments, Mattamy Homes, Brigil, PCL and Tomlinson are all working with RendezVous LeBreton Group.

In thousands of surveys sent to the National Capital Commission during its public consultations, a number of people said they didn't like the look of the many high-rise buildings in the RendezVous LeBreton plan, but Bird says it's important to build densely near the future light-rail stations

Big-name retail on the way

Trinity Development Group, the RendezVous LeBreton partner that will be responsible for the retail component, was also responsible for the shops and restaurants at Lansdowne in the Glebe.

LeBreton will see about twice Lansdowne's amount of retail in its first decade, says Bird, totaling about 800,000 square feet, as well as a similar amount of office space and one hotel.

In the NCC survey this past winter, many people pushed for independent shops or worried LeBreton might end up with a similar retail mix to Lansdowne, which is home to many brand-name stores.

Bird acknowledges that big names will have a place at LeBreton, too, on Albert Street in the lower floors of buildings.

"At the end of the day, like it or not, all of us can't get everything from the artisan shops. There's the big bulk stuff we've just got to get, and why do we have to get in our cars and drive three miles to do that?" Bird asks.

Still, small cafes and shops will be tucked further in the development, where locals and tourists alike feel comfortable sitting to have a glass of wine or coffee, says Bird, before checking out markets, hearing music or strolling beyond to other capital sights.

Bird says he and dozens of others working with the RendezVous LeBreton Group, from engineers to architect Barry Hobin, have had "terrific" experience on projects around the city. He noted Lansdowne went from nothing to football kickoff in 30 months.

"We're now equipped and comfortable," says Bird. "So, it's just 'let us at it,' and what a privilege to be part of it."​

[AndyZagg]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

Maybe it would be more appropriate to have the monument to the cup of Lord Stanley of Preston on the extension of Preston Street, beside the NHL arena, instead of on Sparks Street.

Yes!

[rocketphish]

Chosen RendezVous group could add aquarium to LeBreton development

Don Butler, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: May 3, 2016 | Last Updated: May 3, 2016 7:19 PM EDT

There could yet be an aquarium in LeBreton Flats‘ future.

RendezVous LeBreton, whose redevelopment bid for the long-dormant lands just west of Ottawa’s downtown core was top-rated by an evaluation committee, is interested in holding talks with the runner-up Devcore Canderel DLS Group about potentially adding elements of its plan to the project.

“We’re always open to having discussions with everybody,” said Fred Waks, president and CEO of Trinity Development Group, master planner and builder for the RendezVous LeBreton project. “We’re going to explore everything that’s on the table today.”

In an interview Tuesday, Waks said RendezVous has not approached DCDLS yet, calling that “premature.”

But he said John Ruddy, Trinity’s founder and executive chairman, “will probably be reaching out, in consultation with our other partners, to see if there’s interest there.”

DCDLS “had some interesting things” in its LeBreton proposal, Waks said. Asked what was particularly appealing, he replied: “Possibly Ripley’s (aquarium), I don’t know. That’s going to be a decision made by a consortium of people.”

Ripley’s already operates three successful aquariums in North America, including one in Toronto. DCDLS has said the company was very interested in building another on LeBreton Flats.

Asked for comment Tuesday, Jean-Pierre Poulin, president of Gatineau-based Devcore, said it would be “unreasonable at this stage for RendezVous LeBreton to contemplate any elements of our program to enhance their proposal” since both submissions remain in the running.

The NCC board voted last week to begin negotiations on an agreement with RendezVous, but if the negotiations are unsuccessful, it could yet turn to DCDLS and attempt to reach an agreement based on its proposal.

However, Waks said he fully expected that RendezVous will reach an agreement with the NCC. “We believe the NCC made the correct decision and we’ll make sure not to disappoint.”

Poulin said the National Capital Commission selected the RendezVous bid last week “on the merit of their proposal and as such, (it) should be maintained as submitted.”

While any type of co-operation or discussion between the two competing groups was forbidden in the past, that has changed now that the NCC has decided to start negotiations with RendezVous.

Last week, NCC chief executive Mark Kristmanson said the Crown corporation would encourage RendezVous to make its public anchor uses more national in scope – something the addition of an aquarium might help to accomplish.

Waks said DCDLS – which has the backing of Montreal billionaires André Desmarais and Guy Laliberté, the founder of Cirque du Soleil – has expertise and “deep pockets” on its team. Both proposals also have some “unique elements.” he said.

But the RendezVous bid won the competition, he said, “because it wasn’t something that was ethereal. It was real, it was something tangible, it was something that made sense.”

“We had what I deem to be many more components that were not as government-dependent. I think that’s what gave us the edge.”

Although RendezVous may have an interest in adding some elements of the DCDLS proposal to its plan, Waks said, it won’t depart dramatically from its winning bid.

“We’re going to make sure that all of those elements that made us win are going to be there, too,” he said.

They include a “major event centre” that will become the new home of the Ottawa Senators, a dual-rink Sensplex and Abilities Centre, a restored heritage aqueduct and a cover over the future light rail transit line.

There was an arena in the DCDLS proposal as well, but it also included an entire district of museums and attractions, including the Ripley’s Aquarium.

In its evaluation of the DCDLS plan, the NCC committee said more supportive information on the financial viability of its seven public anchor uses “would have enhanced the proposal.”

The committee also said that clustering the anchor uses apart from proposed residential, commercial and retail uses was a “missed opportunity.”

Under NCC rules, the two teams only have until midnight Wednesday to speak publicly about their respective schemes.

After that, negotiations with RendezVous will begin and could continue into next year. Cabinet approval and the announcement of a successful proponent might not come until 2018.

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http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-...on-development