Ottawa Sun
Published: Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Lansdowne Lives: Continuing with status quo at the park is unacceptable

The Lansdowne Live group will finally unveil its plans today at city hall. Although it seems that all that is left to unveil are the architectural schematics given the flood of media stories over the past 72 hours detailing key elements of the plan — soccer franchise, potential buses on Queen Elizabeth Driveway for large events, year-round farmer’s market.

Assuming that council is on board with the plan, then it moves to public consultation with final approval slated for later this fall. Other elements from the Lansdowne Live group will likely include new parkland along the canal in concert with Parks Canada and the NCC, high-end and unique retail outlets for true “destination” shopping situated near Bank St., a boutique hotel on site near a revamped stadium, multiple dining options for visitors and even relocation of one or more buildings on site.

While the presentation from the Lansdowne proponents, consultants and staff involved will no doubt dazzle, the schematics and artist renderings must take a backseat to more fundamental policy and governance questions which need to be asked before proceeding.

First up, does today’s plan stop the bleeding of some $3 million each year into the decrepit, deteriorating and all but condemned complex of concrete and asphalt that is Lansdowne Park? Continuing for even another six months with the status quo is unacceptable.

Is the plan bigger than a local neighbourhood real estate play? Given the 40 acres of land involved, this has to be a city building exercise. And the plan, if realized, must be robust enough to attract citizens from Orleans, Kanata and the most southern reaches of our city, not just once per year, but several times.

Equally important for residents in the Glebe and Ottawa South, does the Lansdowne Live concept integrate and enhance the character of each neighbourhood? From consistency in street-front housing and retail to the old growth foliage and walkability, hopefully today’s proposal will mirror the community in which it will be situated.

For the trade show crowd, and this is an important business segment for our city, suitable space must be allocated or found through other innovative means while Lansdowne is developed. The long-overdue development of the Congress Centre has already pinched space in the city so this is another key concern for councillors to consider.

On a broader scale, will the plan be a break from failed P3 arrangements of the past where the City of Ottawa was left holding the bag while private proponents got in, made (or lost) some money and got out?

A true risk-sharing proposal could see the city taking on debt for site improvements, if, and only if, the carrying costs of this debt are offset by concession payments, incremental tax collections and other charges.

The proposal cannot add one cent of tax pressure to our beleaguered municipal balance sheet.

Perhaps the biggest challenge for the Lansdowne Live proponents today, and by extension the city, is to ensure multiple entrances (Bank St., the Canal, Holmwood Ave. and the east end of Fifth Ave.) to the park precinct, each with its own amenities and experiences, be they retail, cultural, sporting, work or living.

If council can answer yes to the questions above, then let’s move from Lansdowne Live to Lansdowne Lives!