Lansdowne Park redevelopment

File:Lansdowne Ariel.jpg

By the 1990s, Lansdowne Park had mostly been paved over and the city-owned site was operating at a significant deficit. The grounds were used for the annual SuperEx fair and parking for visitors to the arena and football complex and not much more. The condition of the site had sparked the City to ask for private proposals to rejuvenate the site.{{cite news |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |title=Councillors approve plan to lease empty office space at City Hall: Critics fear loss of confidentiality |date=June 5, 1997 |first=Randy |last=Boswell |page=D14}} A proposal was received to convert most of the lands into a residential development, retain the Aberdeen Pavilion and Civic Centre and return money to the City of Ottawa.{{cite news |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |title=Report backs sale of park: Lansdowne development to save millions for Ottawa |date=October 1, 1998 |page=D1 |first=Adam |last=Mohammed }} Because of a public outcry, the redevelopment plan was abandoned, and the property transferred to the Region of Ottawa-Carleton, keeping the property in the public domain. The Aberdeen Pavilion received a facelift and parklands in the north-east quadrant were improved, but the rest of the site was left "as-is". After the Food Pavilion was torn down, the SuperEx itself was looking for another site, and the fair commission agreed to leave after its lease expired.

In October 2007, the City decided for a second time to initiate a redevelopment of Lansdowne Park. This was partly due to the condition of the lower south grandstand of the stadium, which had been found to have structural problems.{{Cite news

|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-closes-stadium-section-due-to-cracks-in-structure-1.658164

|title=Ottawa closes stadium section due to cracks in structure

|date=September 6, 2007 |access-date=January 10, 2008

|publisher=CBC News}} Ottawa mayor Larry O'Brien suggested that local developers be invited to submit proposals to redevelop the area. Ottawa councillors Peter Hume and Clive Doucet opposed the idea and proposed a design competition for the site, which Council approved, entitled "Design Lansdowne". By January 2008, a web site was set up for public consultation.{{cite news

|url=http://dcnonl.com/article/id26277

|work=Daily Construction News and Construction Record

|title=City of Ottawa takes Lansdowne Park competition to the Web

|date=February 5, 2008}} The goal of the public consultation would be a report by the City which would detail what the future Lansdowne Park was to contain. A request for proposals would then be made for bidding by outside developers, who would construct the project, under a "right to develop" contract.{{cite news

|work=Ottawa Citizen

|title=Getting Lansdowne right

|last=MacEwen |first=Rick

|date=May 14, 2008

|url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=4ffd87ea-84e2-41b9-9788-c470ce486d5b

|accessdate=September 30, 2010}} The Ottawa Regional Society of Architects criticized the plan, suggesting it was not a true design competition. In the City process, developers would hire architects to build to their specifications, while a 'true' design competition would see design firms and architects create designs first, which would then be judged by a jury to determine the best solution. The City would then put out tenders for construction.{{cite web

|url=http://www.orsa.ca/assets/docs/orsa%20design%20lansdowne%20position%20paper%2024%20mar%2008%5B1%5D.pdf

|title=Rethinking Design Lansdowne: an open position paper

|date=March 24, 2008

}}

Public consultations for the first stage were concluded by May 2008. City of Ottawa staff then began developing a report for Council. Before completing the Request for Proposal, the Design Lansdowne process was suspended in June 2008 while studies were done whether the Stadium and arena were worth saving.{{Cite news

|work=Ottawa Citizen |date=June 28, 2008

|title=City puts plans to redevelop Lansdowne on hold; Deputy manager says city must determine whether Civic Centre, stadium can be fixed up

|last=Dare |first=Patrick

|page=A1}} It was determined that the Civic Centre and the main grandstands of Frank Clair Stadium were sound, but the lower south-side grandstand of the stadium, built in 1960, would have to be replaced. The City proceeded to demolish the condemned lower grandstand, using a controlled implosion, in July 2008.{{cite news

|work=Ottawa Citizen

|title=Southside stands fall 'nice and gracefully'

|date=July 21, 2008

|url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html?id=710be037-857a-41db-9738-65e8c67d28bf

|accessdate=September 30, 2010}}

{{History of Ottawa}}

In March 2008, the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG), which includes: Jeff Hunt, owner of the Ottawa 67's; developer Minto Group's chairman, Roger Greenberg; expatriate property developer billionaire Bill Shenkman; and John Ruddy, president of shopping centre developer, Trinity Development Group, were awarded a conditional Canadian Football League (CFL) expansion franchise contingent on securing a suitable stadium and needed Frank Clair Stadium to be renovated.{{cite news

|work=Slam! Sports |title=Big kickoff in Ottawa

|last=Puddicombe |first=Derek |date=March 25, 2008

|accessdate=September 30, 2010 |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Ottawa/2008/03/26/5107081-sun.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115075901/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Ottawa/2008/03/26/5107081-sun.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 15, 2013}} In the fall of 2007, the OSEG group had announced that it would seek the CFL franchise, and intended to play in an upgraded Frank Clair Stadium, with private boxes and other amenities. The stadium plan sketched out the use of a residential and commercial component to pay for the upgrades.{{cite news |work=Canada.com

|title=Ottawa group 'on track' for return to CFL

|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/story.html?id=5417a07a-ae9e-48f3-9f35-c1eedf4755ba&k=97215

|date=March 20, 2008

|accessdate=September 30, 2010}}

Supporters of the design consultation process, notably Glebe Community Association president Bob Brocklebank, were concerned that this would overturn the work done so far on developing a plan for the park, urged the city to continue with the consultation process.{{cite news

|work=CBC news

|title=CFL revival prompts worries about Ottawa stadium

|date=March 25, 2008

}} However, in May 2008, the City decided to suspend the design consultation to determine the OSEG's needs for the facility.{{cite news

|work=Daily Commercial News and Construction Record

|title=Ottawa suspends design competition for Lansdowne Park

|date=May 22, 2008 |last=Koroluk |first=Korky

}} The suspension upset the Glebe Association and Capital Ward councillor Clive Doucet, and prompted Mayor O'Brien to muse "whether or not the city wants or needs a sports stadium on the prime real estate site at all." Results of a survey of Ottawans showed strong support for a public redevelopment of the Park not tied to a professional sports franchise, although a majority of respondents were in favour of retention of the stadium.{{cite news

|work=Ottawa Citizen

|title=Glebe group upset over stalled Lansdowne process

|url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html?id=9fcd6e9a-b269-446d-b96e-5b131d5b7007

|publisher=canada.com

|date=June 2, 2008

|accessdate=September 30, 2010}}

The determination process became more complicated when, in September 2008, the Ottawa Senators organization (Senators Sports & Entertainment (SSE)) approached the city about building a soccer-specific stadium on city-owned land in Kanata, near Canadian Tire Centre, (which was called Scotiabank Place then).{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/melnyk-serious-about-mls-in-ottawa-1.736971 |title=Melnyk serious about MLS |date=September 16, 2008 |publisher=CBC Sports |accessdate=2008-09-19}} The land, being used as a snow dump,{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/soccer-stadium-in-kanata-could-cause-chaos-councillor-1.747343?ref=rss&loomia_si=t0:a16:g2:r1:c0.217365 |title=Soccer stadium in Kanata could cause chaos: councillor |date=September 17, 2008 |accessdate=2008-09-18 |publisher=CBC News}} would house a 20,000 seat stadium, with 30,000 for concerts, and utilize the parking spaces of Scotiabank Place. The stadium was to house a Major League Soccer professional franchise which the Senators group was bidding for.

On October 17, 2008, the OSEG group publicly announced their Lansdowne Live! plan to revitalize Lansdowne Park by redeveloping the entire site in a public-private partnership with the City.{{Cite news

|work=Slam Sports

|last=Stevenson |first=Chris

|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Stevenson/2008/10/18/7129266-sun.html

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115110241/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Stevenson/2008/10/18/7129266-sun.html

|url-status=usurped

|archive-date=January 15, 2013

|title=Lansdowne foes offside ...by turning announcement into a circus

|date=October 18, 2008

|accessdate=September 13, 2010}} The Lansdowne Live proposal envisioned rebuilding Frank Clair Stadium to support not only Canadian Football, but also professional soccer. The remaining south side stands would be torn down and new stands built, while the north side stands would be renovated. Early versions of the plan included practice baseball fields, soccer pitches, a Koi pond, a walk-through aquarium in Aberdeen Pavilion and an outdoor amphitheatre. The plan eventually focused on enhancing the park portion of the site renovating the Civic Centre and adding a commercial element that would help fund the stadium renovations. Exhibition space would be moved off the site to a new facility. Whether the Farmer's Market would remain at the site was unclear.{{Cite news|title=Group bids to remake Lansdowne Park to bring CFL back to Ottawa |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/group-bids-to-remake-lansdowne-park-to-bring-cfl-back-to-ottawa-1.732782 |work=CBC News |date=October 17, 2008}}{{Cite news

|url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/sports/story.html?id=960ae691-e57e-4659-ac17-25f1646502e0

|title=Time ticking down on CFL clock

|last=Campbell|first=Don

|work=The Ottawa Citizen|date=October 18, 2008|accessdate=November 6, 2008}}

Opponents of the OSEG proposal, notably Clive Doucet, councillor for the surrounding district, were concerned that alternative proposals were not being accepted via a design competition. Doucet attempted to get Council's support to restart the Design Lansdowne process, but was unsuccessful.{{Cite news

|work=Ottawa Citizen

|title=Doucet wants city to reopen Lansdowne debate; Councillor seeks competitive process over CFL group's plan

|date=October 24, 2008

|page=F3

|last=Rupert |first=Jake}} Opponents were concerned about a lack of parking, public transportation access and the cost to the City. The OSEG proposal would require the city to spend $129.3 million to renovate the stadium and for its share of the parking. OSEG would commit $117.3 million for the construction of retail and residential condominiums on the site. OSEG would own the new commercial development and operate the stadium, with a portion of the revenues directed back to the city. The new retail and residential would be subject to property taxes.{{Cite web |url=http://lansdowne.econsultation.ca/topics-sujets/show-montrer/38 |title=Business Model |publisher=City of Ottawa |accessdate=May 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218100058/http://lansdowne.econsultation.ca/topics-sujets/show-montrer/38 |archive-date=February 18, 2010 |url-status=dead }}

During the early months of 2009, the City of Ottawa considered both proposals. The staff of the City of Ottawa presented a report to Council on the merits of the Soccer Stadium and Lansdowne proposals. The City held public hearings based on the report, which questioned the necessity of the spending, but gave a slight edge to the Lansdowne proposal. Councillors attempted to find out whether the SSE group would support sharing their stadium with a planned CFL franchise, but the SSE group rejected the possibility. Lansdowne Live proponents made it clear that an MLS team, or another pro soccer team, such as one in the United Soccer League (USL) could play at Frank Clair Stadium.

File:Cineplex Cinemas Lansdowne & VIP.JPG Lansdowne & VIP opened on March 27, 2015]]

On April 22, 2009, City Council voted to go ahead and work with the Lansdowne group instead of the Kanata group. City Council voted to enter into sole-source negotiations with the Lansdowne Live group by a vote of 14–9. Council imposed conditions on the negotiations, including preserving the farmer's market, turning a substantial portion of the site into greenspace and public use areas, no big-box stores and city approval for any buildings.{{Cite news

|work=Ottawa Citizen

|title=City to negotiate for sole-source deal; Council's decision could spell the end for Melnyk's plan for Kanata soccer stadium

|date=April 23, 2009

|page=C1

|last=Rupert |first=Jake}}

After public information sessions and two days of hearings at Ottawa City Hall, the Lansdowne Live proposal was approved in principle by Ottawa City Council on November 16, 2009 by a vote of 15–9, with several conditions. Approval was contingent on transportation and retail studies as well as a plan for the relocation of the exhibition facilities. Design of the park portion of the site would be subject to a design competition. A design review board would be created, headed by urban designer George Dark, to oversee the design elements of the site.{{Cite news|date=November 17, 2009 |work=Ottawa Citizen

|page=A1 |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/Lansdowne+Live+approved/2230056/story.html

|title=Touchdown, Ottawa; Council OKs redevelopment of Lansdowne Park

|last=Dare |first=Patrick}}

In February 2010, the City of Ottawa, the National Capital Commission and Parks Canada made a call for proposals for the urban park design. The proposal received 21 expressions of interest from architectural firms for the development, including several from the United States and one from England. Five of the firms were selected to develop design proposals.{{Cite news

|work=Ottawa Citizen

|title=Ottawa firms give Lansdowne a miss |date=February 12, 2010

|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/business/Ottawa+firms+give+Lansdowne+miss/2552667/story.html

|last=Chianello

|first=Joanie}}

The five plans for the 'urban park' were unveiled on May 21, 2010. Plans included several controversial elements such as re-routing some water from the Canal into the site, a proposal that would be in conflict with the Canal's UN heritage designation. All included extensive greenspace and some included public space around the Aberdeen Pavilion for gatherings. Costs ranged from $32.8 million to $88 million.{{Cite news

|work=Ottawa Citizen

|title=Don't fret Lansdowne price tag, mayor says; More pieces to come on financing plans, O'Brien suggests

|page=F1

|date=May 22, 2010

|first1=Neco |last1=Cockburn |first2=Mohammed |last2=Adam

}} The jury deliberated until June 8 before choosing the "Win-Place-Show" proposal developed by Vancouver landscape architects Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg. The Win-Place-Show proposal created extensive greenspace and preserved Sylvia Holden Park. The proposal did not include the moving of the Horticulture Building to the east of the Aberdeen Pavilion. It included a modification of the canal frontage and a bridge over the canal that were considered unlikely to be built.{{Cite news

|work=Ottawa Citizen

|date=June 12, 2010

|title=Lansdowne Park. Room to play; There's nothing black or white in current plans for greenspace

|page=B1

|last=Butler |first=Don}}

On May 27, OSEG revealed an updated design for the OSEG section of the redevelopment. The plan included new south side stands, wrapped in a wooden outer shell. A new translucent roof would be built over the north and south seating. Botanical gardens would connect the back of the south stands with the pathways along the canal. A new facade for the hockey arena would include retail. New town houses would be built along the northern edge of the site on Holmwood Avenue, with pathways and courtyards that connect into the Lansdowne site. Two residential towers would be built on the Bank Street frontage, expected to be 12 to 14 storeys, sitting atop a podium. The plan included an esplanade of terraced trees and gardens running the length of Bank Street, with retail space. The plan plans to move the Horticulture Building to the east of the Aberdeen Pavilion, to house either the farmer's market or a Parks Canada interpretation centre of the Rideau Canal.{{Cite news

|work=Ottawa Citizen

|title='They did a fabulous job'; Design wins wide praise, but approval uncertain

|date=May 28, 2010

|page=A1

|last=Chianello |first=Joanne}}

On June 28, 2010, after reviewing several studies on the proposal, City of Ottawa Council voted to proceed with sole source negotiations with OSEG. The next step would be to develop a plan that merged the urban park with the OSEG residential and commercial plans. The urban park plan did not include moving the Horticulture Building, and saved some space for the farmer's market beside the Aberdeen Pavilion, that the OSEG plan would build as retail. The plan would be ready in the fall of 2010.{{Cite news|work=Ottawa Citizen

|date=June 29, 2010

|page=A1

|title=Lansdowne closer to reality; City council votes 15–9 in favour of plan to redevelop park

|first1=Neco |last1=Cockburn |first2=Joanne |last2=Chianello}} The Council voted to preserve the sector known as "Lansdowne Community Park", east of O'Connor and south of Fifth Avenue.CHRML(2010), p. 7

In September 2010, Council voted to rezone the lands of Lansdowne Park for the OSEG redevelopment. The move, approved at committee by the tie-breaking vote of mayor O'Brien, included the lands of Sylvia Holden Park along Bank Street and Holmwood Avenue. The City considers the park to be part of Lansdowne and not a park in its own right. The decommissioning of a park in Ottawa requires a 2/3 Council vote in favour. The park is to be redeveloped with four-storey condominiums along Holmwood and a tower at Bank Street. The Holden park land includes green space along Holmwood and landscaping along Bank Street.{{cite news |work=CBC news

|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/council-approves-lansdowne-rezoning-1.867060

|title=Council approves Lansdowne rezoning

|date=September 22, 2010

|accessdate=September 28, 2010}}

On September 28, the OSEG group announced the addition of the Ottawa Fury to the partnership. The Fury bid for a professional franchise in the North American Soccer League, after having operated a semi-professional team in the PDL. The Fury started play in 2014.{{cite news

|work=Ottawa Citizen

|title=Soccer backer gets in Lansdowne game

|last=Starnes |first=Richard

|date=September 28, 2010

}}

On September 29, the City posted the site control plan for the merged OSEG and urban park plans on the Lansdowne Partnership Plan web site. The plan proposes to move the Horticultural Building east of the Aberdeen Pavilion. The Ottawa Farmer's Market would be relocated to a 'Aberdeen Square' public square north of the Aberdeen Pavilion.{{cite news |work=580 CFRA News |url=http://www.cfra.com/?cat=1&nid=75946 |last=Pringle |first=Josh |date=September 29, 2010 |title=Lansdowne Plans Moves Horticulture Building, Creates Farmers' Space |accessdate=September 29, 2010}}

The City held a public meeting on its site control plan on October 14.{{cite web |url=http://www.emcottawaeast.ca/20101021/news/Lansdowne+meeting+impresses+few |title=Lansdowne meeting impresses few |date=October 21, 2010 |publisher=EMC Ottawa |accessdate=November 12, 2010}} Later in October, the municipal election was held and Lansdowne Park was one of the issues, both locally in Capital Ward and across the city in the vote for mayor. Opponent Clive Doucet was defeated for mayor, while former Ottawa mayor Jim Watson, who promised to continue the redevelopment process, was elected to become the new Ottawa mayor.

The site plan was approved at Ottawa City Council on November 22, 2010.{{cite news

|work=Ottawa Citizen |date=November 23, 2010 |title=Stage 1 for Lansdowne plan gets OK

|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/health/Stage+Lansdowne+plan+gets/3869887/story.html |accessdate=November 23, 2010

|first=Joanne |last=Chianello}} Final Council approval is expected in summer 2011.{{cite news |work=Ottawa Citizen |title=Lame-duck status no problem for Lansdowne: staff |date=October 27, 2010 |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/business/Lame+duck+status+problem+Lansdowne+staff/3731529/story.html |last=Cockburn |first=Neco}} According to Ottawa councillor Jan Harder, the site plan itself is not contestable. There are however 14 cases before the Ontario Municipal Board that will come before the courts in April 2011.{{cite news |work=Your Ottawa Region

|url=http://www.yourottawaregion.com/news/local/article/912471--soccer-franchise-in-the-works-greenberg

|title=Soccer franchise in the works: Greenberg |date=December 3, 2010

|accessdate=December 6, 2010}} According to OSEG principal John Pugh, the stadium is expected to be ready for June 2013.

By April 2011, more objections had accumulated to the plan to be heard at an Ontario Municipal Board hearing on the plan. The city reached a mediated settlement with most of the objectors. The revised plan would remove mid-rise buildings from Holmwood Avenue, reduce the heights of over buildings on the site, provide some park space on Holmwood and add some traffic restrictions.{{cite news |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/lansdowne-deal-leaves-community-far-from-happy-1.990018

|title=Lansdowne deal leaves community far from happy |date=April 14, 2011}} Several objectors were left and the OMB hearing proceeded. On June 15, 2011, the OMB decision was published, in favour of the city.{{cite news

|work=Ottawa Citizen

|date=June 16, 2011

|title=OMB supports Lansdowne redevelopment; remaining challenge to be heard in court next week |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/business/supports+Lansdowne+redevelopment+remaining+challenge+heard+court+next+week/4952978/story.html

|last=Chianello |first=Joanne |last2=Reevely |first2=David |accessdate=June 16, 2011}}

Revised plans were released on February 7, 2012. The plans would include three times the amount of greenspace originally planned as well 900 trees. The stadium would have a capacity of 24,000 all-seaters, which at the time would have been the smallest CFL stadium (although Tim Hortons Field for the CFL Tiger-Cats would have a similar size capacity, with each stadium under the League's preferred minimum of 25,000 seats).{{cite web | title = Revised Lansdowne plans unveiled | last = Lathem | first = Catherine | date = February 7, 2012| url = https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/revised-lansdowne-plans-unveiled-1.765271 | publisher = CTV Ottawa}}

File:Frank Clair Stadium - Ottawa Ontario - September 27, 2013.jpg

After the failed legal challenge and an Ontario Municipal Board hearing on the redevelopment, construction on the stadium was delayed to 2012, with planned completion of the stadium in time for the 2014 season, and completion of the complete project in 2015.{{cite news |work=CTV.ca |title=Lansdowne won't be ready for CFL football until 2014 |date=August 12, 2011 |url=https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/lansdowne-won-t-be-ready-for-cfl-football-until-2014-1.682750 |accessdate=August 13, 2011}} Final designs for the retail, parking garage, site servicing, horticulture building, stadium and urban park are expected to be issued in December 2011 or January 2012. Construction on the stadium and parking garage were scheduled are to commence in June 2012, construction on the mixed-use building moved to January 2013, and construction of the urban park moved to June 2014.{{cite web |publisher=City of Ottawa |title=City of Ottawa – Timelines |url=http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/public_consult/lansdowne_partnership/timelines_en.html |accessdate=September 30, 2011}}{{update after|2012|12|31}}

The mixed-use portion, overseen by Ottawa-based developer Trinity Development Group, totaled 360,000 sq.ft.

After approval by Council of the updated plan in August 2011, the City posted a request for developers to handle the development of 280 residential units and the office building. The request deadline concluded on November 15, 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.merx.com/English/SUPPLIER_Menu.asp?WCE=Show&TAB=1&PORTAL=MERX&State=7&id=227271&src=osr&FED_ONLY=0&ACTION=&rowcount=&lastpage=&MoreResults=&PUBSORT=0&CLOSESORT=0&IS_SME=Y&hcode=FYXOAiOQvceHs2aM1ctSgg%3d%3d |title=RFO – Air Rights for the Residential and Office Components of the Lansdowne Partnership Plan (LPP) |publisher=MERX |date=September 11, 2011 |accessdate=September 30, 2011}} The City awarded two contracts, totalling {{CA$|0.7|link=yes}}{{nbsp}}million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|CA|0.7|2011|r=1}}{{nbsp}}million in {{Inflation/year|CA}}), for engineering services to move the Horticulture Building.{{cite news |last=Pringle |first=Josh |work=580 CFRA |title=City Prepares to Move Horticulture Building |url=http://www.cfra.com/?cat=1&nid=81867 |date=September 29, 2011 |accessdate=September 30, 2011}}

In May 2012, the City awarded contracts to proceed with development. The first, to EllisDon to demolish the Coliseum, build a new foundation for the Horticulture Building and excavate and remediate any contaminated soil for $7.5{{nbsp}}million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|CA|7.5|2012|r=1}}{{nbsp}}million in {{Inflation/year|CA}}), was expected to be complete by November 2012. A second contract, valued at $6.5{{nbsp}}million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|CA|6.5|2012|r=1}}{{nbsp}}million in {{Inflation/year|CA}}), to CDS Building Movers, to relocate the Horticulture Building was also awarded. The move was to be complete by March 2013.{{cite news

|work=Ottawa Business Journal

|url=http://www.obj.ca/Local/City-Hall/2012-05-23/article-2985978/EllisDon,-CDS-Building-Movers-win-Lansdowne-contracts/1

|title=EllisDon, CDS Building Movers win Lansdowne contracts

|date=May 23, 2012 |accessdate=May 24, 2012

|last=Symons |first=Courtney }}{{update after|2013|03|31}}

The football and soccer stadium redevelopment was completed in time for the Ottawa Redblacks and Ottawa Fury home openers in July 2014. The urban park, officially "Lansdowne Park", was opened in August 2014, although some facilities such as the playground and skate park needed further work. The urban park opening included the moved and renovated Horticulture Building.

File:Lansdowne Park 2017-12-09.png

In August 2009, Glebe businessman John E. Martin, made a proposal to build a new stadium and library/cultural centre on city-owned property on Bayview Avenue in Mechanicsville. At Lansdowne Park, Frank Clair Stadium North Stands would be kept and refurbished, the hockey arena retained and the South stands taken down and left down, heritage buildings would be kept in place, renovated and converted into retail and service-related space and the rest of the site greened with a concert shell, horticulture area and outdoor pool.{{Cite web|url=http://vo-ao.ca/images/pdf/lansdownebrochure.pdf |publisher=Vitally Ottawa |accessdate=September 13, 2010 |title=Lansdowne Park 2012}} The Bayview site, contaminated from use as a rail yard, would have to be decontaminated.{{Cite news

|work=Ottawa Citizen

|title=Lansdowne Live up against 11th-hour challenge; Businessman wants design competition, calls for Bayview stadium

|date=August 20, 2009

|page=C1

|last=Cook |first=Maria

}}

File:Ottawa LPC Proposal.JPG

The Lansdowne Park Conservancy (LPC) proposal and competitive bid was established in March 2010{{Cite web|url=http://www.lpc-cpl.ca |title=Lansdowne Park Conservancy of Ottawa | Conservation Parc Lansdowne d'Ottawa |publisher=Lpc-cpl.ca |accessdate=2010-09-11}} to provide an alternative option to the sole-sourced OSEG plan. The goal of the LPC is to preserve Lansdowne Park as a 100% public space for the enjoyment of present and future generations.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lpc-cpl.ca/images/pdf/conservancybid.pdf |title=Conservancy bid |publisher=Lansdowne Park Conservancy |accessdate=September 13, 2010}} Lansdowne Park would be managed under a nonprofit management model with a volunteer board modeled after the successful Central Park Conservancy in New York. The Conservancy proposes working in partnership with the City of Ottawa. Under the proposal, the City of Ottawa retains full ownership of the land. According to LPC, the plan meets the directions of City Council of a stadium, greenspace, revenue neutrality and management structure, with the significant difference that all site revenue surplus is returned to the taxpayer and the park is kept 100% public.{{Cite web

|url=http://www.lpc-cpl.ca/images/pdf/conservancybid.pdf

|publisher=Lansdowne Park Conservancy

|accessdate=September 13, 2010

|title=Lansdowne Park Conservancy Bid}}

On June 21, 2010 the LPC submitted its competitive bid to the Ottawa City Council. Council voted to continue with the OSEG plan. On September 14, 2010, LPC presented a preview of the revised proposal to the planning and environment committee of Ottawa City Council. The group presented two options for Lansdowne, a $98 million proposal that builds solar roofing on the south-side stands, installs an Olympic-size pool and constructs a concert shell in new greenspace and a $47 million proposal to simply demolish the south-side stands and convert the space to greenspace. The proposals were developed with international design firm NBBJ.{{cite news

|work=Ottawa Sun

|url=http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2010/09/14/15351306.html

|title=Group pitches Lansdowne alternative

|date=September 14, 2010 |accessdate=September 15, 2010

|last=Willing |first=Jon}}

Both proposals retain the hockey arena, Aberdeen, Coliseum and Horticulture buildings in place. The second alternative would see an RFP for a stadium-tied development on the vacant City lot at Bayview and Scott Street ( adjacent to the Ottawa River near LeBreton Flats).{{Cite web|url=http://vo-ao.ca/english/home.html |title=Vitally Ottawa – English |publisher=Vo-ao.ca |accessdate=2010-09-11}} According to the LPC, the Bayview site is the logical long term strategic choice and was the number one stadium location by the City of Ottawa Stadium Location Study.{{Cite web|url=http://vo-ao.ca/images/pdf/crgresults.pdf |publisher=vitally ottawa |title=Excerpt of CRG Study |accessdate=September 13, 2010 }} Both of the Conservancy options are planned to be revenue positive for the city and have zero taxpayer cost.{{Cite web|url=http://vo-ao.ca/images/pdf/crgstudy.pdf |title=Microsoft Word - 08-096 COO Facility Needs Assessment-PhI & II FINAL-Dec31-08.doc |accessdate=2010-09-11}} Despite the claims by Conservancy proponents, the Ottawa City Council planning and environment committee was not interested in the plans. The Conservancy's competitive bid was submitted to the City's Procurement Department directly on November 15, 2010 for consideration by Ottawa City Council.{{cite news |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=November 15, 2010 |last=Chianello |first=Joanne

|title=Glebe opponent to Lansdowne Live submits own proposal to Ottawa city council

|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/business/Glebe+opponent+Lansdowne+Live+submits+proposal+Ottawa+city+council/3832283/story.html?cid=megadrop_story

|accessdate=November 16, 2010}} Both the outgoing and incoming councillors for the neighbouring Capital Ward have indicated that they want the City to consider the proposal. The LPC argues that the City must, according to procurement rules, study any competing proposal for a sole-source bid for City business.

The City rejected the Lansdowne Park Conservancy's submissions twice. In a November 18, 2010 letter to the LPC: "Your submission is not timely having regard to the fact Council already granted approvals pertaining to the Lansdowne Partnership Plan going back to June 28, 2010." The letter also pointed out that the city's legal counsel had already informed the LPC in August that any future proposals would not be accepted.{{cite news |work=CBC News |title=City rejects alternative Lansdowne plan |date=November 19, 2010 |accessdate=November 19, 2010 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/lansdowne-park-vote-delayed-to-monday-1.907335}} The original Conservancy bid predated that decision on June 21, 2010, 7 days prior. However, under Procurement law the City was obliged to have a public Request for Proposals or RFP on the developer unsolicited proposal.City of Ottawa Procurement Law Section 25 of Procurement By-Law 50 [https://web.archive.org/web/20110402092011/http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/bylaw/a_z/purchasing_en.html By-Law 50] and the Ottawa Option PolicyOttawa Option Policy on Unsolicited Proposals [http://ottawa.ca/city_hall/policies/ottawa_option/ottawa_option_policy_en.html#P24_1162 Ottawa Option Policy component of Section 25 By-Law 50] The LPC's goal was to allow a competitive process.

The Conservancy filed a lawsuit seeking open bidding, but the Ontario Superior Court rejected the suit as an abuse of process on March 23, 2012. They filed an appeal which the Ontario Appeals court refused to hear on August 29, 2012.{{cite news |newspaper=The Ottawa Citizen |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/Court+refuses+hear+appeal+from+Lansdowne+Park+Conservancy/7162767/story.html#ixzz24xvATRo9 |title=Court Refuses to Hear Appeal From Lansdowne Park Conservancy}} A request for the Supreme Court of Canada to hear an appeal was rejected in January 2013.{{cite news |work=Ottawa Citizen |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/Final+Lansdowne+legal+appeal+shot+down/7800960/story.html |title=Supreme Court turns back final Lansdowne legal challenge |last=Reevely |first=David |date=January 10, 2013 |accessdate=January 11, 2013}}

Although opposed to the OSEG plan, most opponents are not against redevelopment of the Lansdowne Park site per se. The site is considered to be in poor condition, for the amount of asphalt, and condition of the buildings, as well as other aspects.{{Cite news

|work=Ottawa Citizen

|title=Showdown on Bank Street; Few Lansdowne issues have divided observers as have plans to develop retail space. The Citizen's DON BUTLER looks at the plans and talks to the players about the cost of business and the price of retail

|last=Butler |first=Don

|date=June 19, 2010

|page=B4}} Opposition to the OSEG plan can be summarized with the following points:

• opposition to the sole-source nature of the plan{{Cite news

|work=CTV News Ottawa |date=September 10, 2010

|url=https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/group-takes-city-to-court-over-lansdowne-park-1.550890

|title=Group takes city to court over Lansdowne Park

|accessdate=September 10, 2010}}

• opposition to the building of retail and commercial space controlled by a private developer on City-owned lands
• scale of the retail and residential components
• concerns about heritage aspects of the site{{Cite news|work=Ottawa Citizen

|title=Heritage issues rising in Lansdowne quagmire; Some of its charms aren't readily apparent, but history may yet play a strong role in shaping this park's future, Don Butler reports.

|date=June 20, 2010

|page=B1

|last=Butler |first=Don}}

• cost of the project{{Cite news|work=Ottawa Citizen

|title=Navigating the choppy waters of cost; At the core of the public-private partnership between the city and OSEG is a priority payment structure, colloquially known as the waterfall. Don Butler paddles by for a view from all angles

|date=June 27, 2010

|page=B3

|last=Butler |first=Don}}

• building on the Sylvia Holden Park lands

Most opposition comes from residents and businesses of the Glebe neighbourhood, but not exclusively. City Council members from surrounding wards also have voted against the OSEG plan. A survey of businesses in the Glebe area showed that they were concerned about the amount of retail development and the possible negative effects on their businesses.{{Cite web

|title=Lansdowne proposal 'could kill the Glebe,' group says; Deluge of retail 'unacceptable,' says business association

|work=Ottawa Citizen

|date=September 3, 2009

|page=A1

|last=Deachman |first=Bruce }}

In October 2009, the local Glebe Community Association demanded that the City of Ottawa go back to the drawing board. An Association vote for a "fair, open and competitive approach" to developing Lansdowne Park was unanimously endorsed. A competitive process would require competing proposals to the Lansdowne Live project and invite bidding for the park redevelopmentk.{{Cite news|work=Ottawa Citizen|title=Glebe group vows to fight Lansdowne Live plan|page=C2|date=October 21, 2009|last=Duffy|first=Andrew}}

File:Lansdowne Park redevelopment Dec 2012.jpg

Glebe resident Ian Lee, who runs the MBA program at Carleton University's Sprott School of Business, was critical of the cost of the project. The plan approved by Ottawa says rebuilding Frank Clair Stadium, constructing underground parking, developing an urban park and relocating trade show space will cost $172.8 million, a number disputed by Lee, "Capital projects have a very bad habit of having major costs overruns." He predicts, the total cost will be "north of $300 million." The City had its auditor-general review the business plan who concluded that the plans' financial assumptions "are reasonable and present a realistic expectation for the future." However, Lee contends that the auditor-general should have remained neutral and uninvolved, and subsequently, he filed a complaint with the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.

The Association agreed to the mediated settlement with the city in April 2011.

Plans to move the Horticultural building were opposed by the Heritage Canada Foundation, which put Lansdowne Park on its top ten list of "endangered heritage" locations after a nomination by the Glebe Community Association.{{Cite news|work=CTV News Ottawa |date=August 11, 2010|title=Lansdowne Park listed as endangered heritage spot}} In the OSEG and urban park proposal, the Horticultural building, a building of architectural interest, would be moved a short distance east to make room for the OSEG quadrant. According to the City's solicitor, the City has the power to move the Horticulture Building without outside consent.{{Cite news|work=580 CFRA News|date=September 8, 2010|url=http://www.cfra.com/?cat=1&nid=75482|title=City Can Move Horticulture Building: Lawyer|last=Pringle|first=Josh|accessdate=September 9, 2010}} A hearing was held to hear the debate on the moving of the building. The heritage board rejected the move of the building, although its decision is not binding on the City of Ottawa. However, due to the decision, the City has to rescind the heritage designation of the building in order to move it legally. It may then apply the heritage designation again in the future, after it has been moved.

Heritage advocates planned to fight on and planned to appeal to the Ontario government to stop the move of the Horticultural Building.{{cite web |url=http://www.yourottawaregion.com/news/local/article/894918--heritage-ottawa-will-push-for-provincial-intervention-at-lansdowne |title=Heritage Ottawa will push for provincial intervention at Lansdowne |last=Mueller |first=Laura |date=October 28, 2010 |accessdate=November 23, 2010 |publisher=YourOttawaRegion.Com}} On November 4, 2010, the City's Built Heritage Advisory Committee, a group of Ottawa citizens appointed by City Council to advise it on heritage matters, met and discussed the Heritage Impact Study of the Partnership Plan. The committee disliked the move of the Horticultural Building and recommended unanimously against the move.{{cite web |url=http://www.yourottawaregion.com/news/article/901859--heritage-committee-rejects-horticulture-building-move |title=Heritage committee rejects Horticulture Building move |last=Mueller |first=Laura |date=November 11, 2010 |accessdate=November 12, 2010 |publisher=YourOttawaRegion.Com}}

The Friends of Lansdowne Park was launched in July 2009 to advocate against the Lansdowne Live proposal. Although the Friends did not launch a counter-proposal, the Friends advocated for a revitalization of Lansdowne Park based on principles developed through a process involving "significant and meaningful public consultation, a fair, open design competition to revitalize Lansdowne Park – like the one Council interrupted" and "a sustainable design."{{Cite web|publisher=Friends of Lansdowne Park

|url=http://www.friendsoflansdownepark.ca/home/Updates

|title=Updates

|accessdate=September 12, 2010}} The group has approximately 50 volunteers, and support across Ottawa, according to Doug Ward.

A court challenge was launched by Gary Sealey, Doug Ward, and the "Friends of Lansdowne" in September 2010, seeking to overturn the partnership plan on the grounds that city rules were not followed in the sole-source process. According to the City of Ottawa, the legality of the process was reviewed by third-party lawyers before the June 28 Council meeting.{{cite news |work=Ottawa Citizen

|title=Tax plan for Lansdowne doesn't make sense, says expert hired by group suing to stop it

|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/business/plan+Lansdowne+doesn+make+sense+says+expert+hired+group+suing+stop/4126472/story.html?cid=megadrop_story

|last=Reevely |first=David

|date=January 19, 2011

|accessdate=February 3, 2011}} The group hired Steven Shrybman, a partner at Sack Goldblatt Mitchell LLP. Doug Ward described the hiring of Shrybman: "That's why there has been a large fundraising campaign ... because we wanted to get the best. And we have the best."{{cite web

|url=http://ottawa.openfile.ca/ottawa/file/2011/01/people-behind-lansdowne-legal-challenge

|title=The people behind the Lansdowne Legal Challenge

|publisher=ottawa.openfile.ca

|last=Carlson |first=Laura

|date=January 11, 2011 |accessdate=February 3, 2011}} In motions to the court, the group has requested copies of all City files related to the case and that in the event that the suit loses, the group will not have to pay the City and OSEG's legal costs.{{cite news

|work=Ottawa Citizen

|title=Lansdowne opponents demand mountain of files

|last=Reevely |first=David

|date=January 14, 2011}} The challenge went to trial on June 21, 2011. The judge rendered a verdict rejecting the challenge on all counts on July 28, 2011.{{cite news |work=CBC News |title=Lansdowne Park legal challenge rejected |date=July 28, 2011 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/lansdowne-park-legal-challenge-rejected-1.990630 |access-date=July 29, 2011}} The group announced on August 17, 2011, that they would file an appeal to the court "that the Superior Court allowed Ottawa's City Council far too much latitude in regard to restrictions set out in provincial law concerning competitive procurement, the use of tax dollars to assist commercial entities and the requirement that it put the public interest first."{{cite press release |publisher=Friends of Lansdowne |title=Friends of Lansdowne to Appeal Municipal Act Ruling |url=http://friendsoflansdownepark.ca/news-and-media/press-releases/417-friends-of-lansdowne-to-appeal-municipal-act-ruling |accessdate=August 18, 2011}}

The Court ruled on April 30, 2012 to dismiss the Friends' appeal. The Court ruled the Superior Court interpreted the Municipal Act correctly, that no illegal bonus or procurement was conferred, the City of Ottawa did not contravene its own practices and the implementing by-law was passed in good faith. The Appeals Court noted that by-laws cannot be overturned on their "reasonableness or unreasonableness" but their legality under the Act.{{cite web |url=http://www.ontariocourts.ca/decisions/2012/2012ONCA0273.pdf |title=Friends of Lansdowne Inc. v. Ottawa (City) |date=April 30, 2012 |accessdate=April 30, 2012 |publisher=Ontario Court of Appeals}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book|last=Commonwealth Historic Resource Management Limited|title=Lansdowne Park: Statement of Cultural Values and Heritage Impact Statement

|url=http://webcast.ottawa.ca/plan/All_Image%20Referencing_Site%20Plan%20Application_Image%20Reference_Statement%20of%20Cultural%20Values%20and%20Heritage%20Impact%20Assessment%20D07-12-10-0220.PDF|year=2010|publisher=City of Ottawa|access-date=2010-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706192634/http://webcast.ottawa.ca/plan/All_Image%20Referencing_Site%20Plan%20Application_Image%20Reference_Statement%20of%20Cultural%20Values%20and%20Heritage%20Impact%20Assessment%20D07-12-10-0220.PDF|archive-date=2011-07-06|url-status=dead}}

{{refend}}

{{Portal|Ontario}}

• [http://www.lansdownepark.ca/ Lansdowne Park]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130624092550/http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/planning-and-development/transforming-ottawa/building-new-lansdowne City of Ottawa Building New Lansdowne]
• [http://friendsoflansdownepark.ca/ Friends of Lansdowne Park]

{{Ottawa landmarks}}

{{Coord|45.399166|-75.683119|type:landmark|display=title}}

Category:2000s in Ottawa

Category:2010s in Ottawa

Category:Buildings and structures in Ottawa

Category:Redevelopment projects in Canada