Larry O’Brien

The options have been made very clear.

We have the choice between moving forward in partnership with four community leaders who are committed to returning Lansdowne to its former glory, or of rejecting this partnership, turning our backs on the only viable plan to restore this city treasure, and continuing to waste millions of your tax dollars to simply maintain the neglected parking lot we have today.

I am confident that this council can be the one to finally fix Lansdowne. After all, it was these very elected representatives who finally approved the renovation of the Ottawa Congress Centre after years of unnecessary delays. Now that shovels are in the ground, the benefits of that decision are obvious — from the hundreds of construction jobs created, to the considerable economic activity that will be generated when the doors to the new Convention Centre open to thousands of visitors in April of 2011.

The time is now for this council to once again make the right decision for Ottawa’s future — not just for the short-term, but also for the long-term. Lansdowne has the potential to be the largest single construction project in this city’s history. That means putting thousands of people to work on what will become a year-round showcase for our residents and visitors on the bank of the Rideau Canal.

Council recently received the results of the extensive public consultation on the future of Lansdowne. The central finding in my mind is that the more people know about the proposal, the more supportive of it they are.

The plan to transform the site has support across the city, which is the way it should be. People from all parts of the city want to see the existing asphalt turned into green space. They are excited about the return of professional sports. And they deserve to enjoy the farmers’ market year-round.

It comes as no surprise that a small group of residents closest to the park have the strongest feelings against the plan. We have heard their concerns and are working to address them through improved traffic and transit management. But in the end, the notion of creating a 37-acre park for these local residents is not a solution that the majority of Ottawa taxpayers are willing to support.

It is our responsibility to effectively manage the city’s facilities in order to ensure that they are in good shape for future generations. This proposed partnership could accomplish that goal at Lansdowne without increasing property taxes and without the city giving up ownership of the park.

I am confident that we have the right process and partners in place, along with a plan that allows our private sector partners to recover their investment while sharing revenues with the city. In the end, Lansdowne will remain a city asset for future generations to enjoy.

Council has agreed up until now to explore the merits of this unsolicited partnership plan. Their direction to city staff was to ensure that the taxpayers were protected, that the public had access to enhanced green space, and that the development fit within the community.

I am now asking council to approve the plan in order to allow staff to finalize the terms of the agreement. The notion that we still need more time to review it is just a crafty way for those opposed to the partnership to kill it without exposing their true intentions.

The plan has been extensively reviewed, and the results of public consultation have confirmed support for it.  The city and our partners are ready to get to work. All it takes is the courage of council to make the right decision.

Now, your councillor needs to hear from you. Take the time to have your voice heard over the next week — place a call to your councillor or write an e-mail to let them know that you support the Lansdowne Partnership Plan, and that they should too.

Larry O’Brien