Lansdowne Park Redevelopment Phase 1 | Completed

[umbria27]

Originally Posted by JFFournier

Well isn't that just too damn bad.

During the court case, they would remind us that if we'd had the competition, the park would have been fully renovated by then. Well, if they hadn't slowed this project down with their pointless lawsuit and appeal, construction might well be over by now. No sympathy.

Council stated that much of the delay was internal. The detailed plans weren't approved and they didn't have tenants.

"It was also revealed by city staff that the court challenge against Lansdowne Park did not delay the project, as they had said before. Instead the planning for Lansdowne Park was not ready for its earlier deadline 18 months ago." http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/sto...ansdowne-final-report-fedco-meeting.html

Regardless, even if the delay had been entirely due to neighbourhood opposition, your attitude is punitive. It implies that if you use legal methods to oppose a council decision, you are fair game to be punished by the council waiving the bylaws.
I wonder what the retail tenants think of this. The city and developer aren't doing much to endear themselves to the primary customers of their banks and drug stores.

[JFFournier]

Originally Posted by umbria27

Council stated that much of the delay was internal. The detailed plans weren't approved and they didn't have tenants.

"It was also revealed by city staff that the court challenge against Lansdowne Park did not delay the project, as they had said before. Instead the planning for Lansdowne Park was not ready for its earlier deadline 18 months ago." http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/sto...ansdowne-final-report-fedco-meeting.html

Regardless, even if the delay had been entirely due to neighbourhood opposition, your attitude is punitive. It implies that if you use legal methods to oppose a council decision, you are fair game to be punished by the council waiving the bylaws.
I wonder what the retail tenants think of this. The city and developer aren't doing much to endear themselves to the primary customers of their banks and drug stores.

Hey, isn't that the article that's posted on the FoL website?

I recall taking them to task over it on Twitter a little bit because Kirkpatrik at the time said that the FoL was *a* cause but not the only one. CBC reported it differently and of course the FoL only shared the version that they liked, grand champions of transparency that they are.

And yes, I do apply the thinking of many opponents of the time, which was that just because it's legal, doesn't make it right. They may have been legally "allowed" to challenge the deal, but it was a weak argument with the simple purpose of killing the proposal because they didn't care for the method used to achieve it (or at least the results of that method).

[AuxTown]

I've stayed on the FOL mailing list this whole time and it's been very interesting in recent months. They are soliciting NIMBY Glebites for the last few dollars to pay for legal services rendered. The emails are so bitter it's ridiculous. I can't wait to go to a CFL or NASL game and walk over to a local pub for dinner or drinks after....lord knows I won't be part of the traffic congestion after the game. I work in Centretown and have an underground parking spot on Maclaren and I will likely park there 30-40 minutes early and walk down to the game.....can't wait!

[JFFournier]

Originally Posted by O-Town Hockey

I've stayed on the FOL mailing list this whole time and it's been very interesting in recent months. They are soliciting NIMBY Glebites for the last few dollars to pay for legal services rendered. The emails are so bitter it's ridiculous.

Here's a small part of the latest.

"Apparently, City Councillors think it is more important to keep construction costs down than to respect the right of residents to have a peaceful night's sleep."

So NOW keeping costs down is wrong. Before it was supposedly all about getting the best possible deal for taxpayers. Apparently, that's no longer the primary concern.

At least in expressing concern about local residents they are as close as they've ever been to being truthful.

[umbria27]

Originally Posted by JFFournier

Hey, isn't that the article that's posted on the FoL website?

I recall taking them to task over it on Twitter a little bit because Kirkpatrik at the time said that the FoL was *a* cause but not the only one. CBC reported it differently and of course the FoL only shared the version that they liked, grand champions of transparency that they are.

And yes, I do apply the thinking of many opponents of the time, which was that just because it's legal, doesn't make it right. They may have been legally "allowed" to challenge the deal, but it was a weak argument with the simple purpose of killing the proposal because they didn't care for the method used to achieve it (or at least the results of that method).

I don't particularly care who linked to the CBC article. Staff clearly admitted that they had delays of their own and that the lawsuit was a convenient scapegoat. They are like the kids who didn't do the homework and are grateful for the snow day so they don't have to hand it in.

You don't seem to have seen the line you've crossed by saying it's ok to selectively waive bylaws if they punish groups that delay projects or oppose city plans. Projects are delayed all the time by procedural issues. Even developers take the city to court. That doesn't mean we should smugly claim they deserve it if a bylaw is then applied unequally to them.

As a tenant of Lansdowne I would be very concerned by the city and OSEGs continued tactic of alienating and scapegoating the surrounding residents. With the retail venture morphing into a community shopping centre with banks, drug store, grocery store, the target customers are increasingly the ones they are antagonizing. It's going to be difficult to turn up on grand opening day and say "We blamed you for delays, demonized you in the press and ignored your noise complaints, but come on in, we're happy to serve you."

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by JFFournier

Well isn't that just too damn bad.

During the court case, they would remind us that if we'd had the competition, the park would have been fully renovated by then. Well, if they hadn't slowed this project down with their pointless lawsuit and appeal, construction might well be over by now. No sympathy.

Also a good point. When you choose to fight a battle, you need evaluate the possible consequences of loosing. They clearly did not do that.

[lrt's friend]

And who said that a competitive process could occur and still meet the required deadlines to hold the Women's World Cup in 2014?

Around the clock construction is the reality of holding up the project for a couple of years. The delays and the community hostility has also impacted which tenants were going to go into Lansdowne. There are consequences of actions taken by FoL.

[JFFournier]

Originally Posted by umbria27

I don't particularly care who linked to the CBC article. Staff clearly admitted that they had delays of their own and that the lawsuit was a convenient scapegoat.

You should, when the linking is selective. The other articles that included the legal challenge as an obstacle were conveniently ignored by the self-appointed transparency police at the time. As they want you to, you latch on to the one they feed you and you simply accept it. Here's another:

http://www.emcottawasouth.ca/20121018/news/Lansdowne+Park+a+done+deal

The project has faced 18 months of delays due to the design review panel asking for tweaks to the project and two legal challenges brought forward by the Friends of Lansdowne and the Lansdowne Park Conservancy.

Originally Posted by umbria27

You don't seem to have seen the line you've crossed by saying it's ok to selectively waive bylaws if they punish groups that delay projects or oppose city plans.

I'm not. I'm saying I have no sympathy for them on the basis that had they not interfered with their baseless lawsuit, they would no longer have to deal with this. Same reasoning that they were throwing out when they were telling us how great a competition would have been. There's nothing to indicate that this is "punishment".

[ThaLoveDocta]

Originally Posted by umbria27

As a tenant of Lansdowne I would be very concerned by the city and OSEGs continued tactic of alienating and scapegoating the surrounding residents. With the retail venture morphing into a community shopping centre with banks, drug store, grocery store, the target customers are increasingly the ones they are antagonizing. It's going to be difficult to turn up on grand opening day and say "We blamed you for delays, demonized you in the press and ignored your noise complaints, but come on in, we're happy to serve you."

As a Glebe resident myself, I have discussed this project a fair bit with neighbours and dog walkers in the local parks (and yes, we have a whole slew of 'em)

I can not even count the number of residents with whom I have spoken who were vehemently opposed to the development until they learned what was coming.

Some Quotes:
"It's just not good for the neighbourhood... A crate and barrel?! Really?! Oh my gosh, I can't wait"

"I cant believe they're getting away with all this.... Whole Foods you say?? I really love their produce in Toronto"

The vocal neighbours can talk boycott all they want. It wont materialize.

[JFFournier]

Originally Posted by ThaLoveDocta

As a Glebe resident myself, I have discussed this project a fair bit with neighbours and dog walkers in the local parks (and yes, we have a whole slew of 'em)

I can not even count the number of residents with whom I have spoken who were vehemently opposed to the development until they learned what was coming.

Some Quotes:
"It's just not good for the neighbourhood... A crate and barrel?! Really?! Oh my gosh, I can't wait"

"I cant believe they're getting away with all this.... Whole Foods you say?? I really love their produce in Toronto"

The vocal neighbours can talk boycott all they want. It wont materialize.

Funny how those comments didn't find their way into the Glebe Report. Oh, that's right, those who wrote in favour of the LPP never saw print.

[cjones2451]

Does anyone know the plans for seating for the NASL Ottawa Fury Soccer team? Are they only going to sell lower tier? Maybe tarp off the top. I think that would make it a WAY better setting

[Boxster]

Originally Posted by cjones2451

Does anyone know the plans for seating for the NASL Ottawa Fury Soccer team? Are they only going to sell lower tier? Maybe tarp off the top. I think that would make it a WAY better setting

I heard that they may need to add standing room at the back for the NASL games so I guess that they expect all seats to be sold out.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Boxster

I heard that they may need to add standing room at the back for the NASL games so I guess that they expect all seats to be sold out.

You won't sell out 25,000 seats for NASL games in Ottawa. Not on a regular basis anyway.

[Boxster]

Originally Posted by Acajack

You won't sell out 25,000 seats for NASL games in Ottawa. Not on a regular basis anyway.

That was a sarcastic remark on my part.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Boxster

That was a sarcastic remark on my part.

Oops. 'Scuse.

[bikegypsy]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Oops. 'Scuse.

Meanwhile, some of us are interested in an answer to the original question asked by cjones2451, instead of mindless ramblings.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by bikegypsy

Meanwhile, some of us are interested in an answer to the original question asked by cjones2451, instead of mindless ramblings.

Désolé de vous déranger...

(Translation: sorry for making you deranged. )

[Boxster]

Originally Posted by bikegypsy

Meanwhile, some of us are interested in an answer to the original question asked by cjones2451, instead of mindless ramblings.

Excusez moi.

This is also not a sports or soccer forum.

Where is your sense of humour anyway?

[bikegypsy]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Désolé de vous déranger...

(Translation: sorry for making you deranged. )

Merci. C'est gentil de votre part de concevoir que le sarcasme ne fait qu'avancer que ceux qui veulent aller nul part.

[JFFournier]

Originally Posted by cjones2451

Does anyone know the plans for seating for the NASL Ottawa Fury Soccer team? Are they only going to sell lower tier? Maybe tarp off the top. I think that would make it a WAY better setting

Sounds like it.

“We’re not going to fill the stadium for every league game,” says Pugh. “We will be doing whatever we can to make it feel intimate, by blocking off the seating and so on.”

http://www.centretownnews.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3465&Itemid=99