Lansdowne designs true to park’s 150-year history

May 27th, 2010

Today, the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) unveiled their designs for the proposed redevelopment of Lansdowne Park. Architects Richard Brisbin, Barry Hobin, and Robert Claiborne of Cannon Design in Toronto said their goal was to create an urban space that reflects a vision for the future coupled with a connection to Lansdowne’s past.

The designs revealed today include a refurbished Frank Clair Stadium, an expansion of the Glebe’s grid street system into Lansdowne to accommodate a mix of commercial space, residential development and public squares, and a new location for the Horticulture Building that will become the site of the Ottawa Farmer’s Market.

I am delighted that we have reached this milestone in the Lansdowne project, a design plan that can be examined by our citizens and brought to City Council in June. It’s exciting that we are on the threshold of finally moving forward with a plan to bring Lansdowne back to its former glory.

I congratulate the team of architects on their superb work. It is obvious that these world-class architects laboured around the clock to deliver a design that is worthy of this important site.

I now look forward to hearing more from the residents of Ottawa as we move forward in the effort to make Lansdowne the envy of Ottawa, Canada, and the world.

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World-class ideas for Lansdowne’s urban park

May 21st, 2010

Today at City Hall, in partnership with the National Capital Commission and Parks Canada Agency, the City unveiled five exciting proposals for a new urban park at Lansdowne.

The design ideas, created by some of the world’s best landscape architects, are available to view on the City’s website and at several City buildings. Public comments will be gathered until May 31, 2010 on ottawa.ca.

After the public comment period, a jury of design experts and officials from the City’s partner agencies will select a winning design.

This is a great moment for the City of Ottawa and its partners on this project. As a Council we asked for the best ideas for a revitalized Lansdowne Park and now we get to see what some top talent in the field can create for this important heritage site in our capital.

The designs are on display at:

 

City Hall, May 20-23,

Lansdowne Park, May 24-26,

Ray Friel Recreation Centre, May 27-28,

Nepean Sportsplex, May 27-28,

Walter Baker Sports Centre, May 29-30,

Kanata Recreation Centre, May 29-30.

 

Together, we can revitalize Lansdowne Park and turn it into a stunning, awe-inspiring place that will attract Ottawans, Canadians, and people from around the world to our great city for decades to come.

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Lansdowne Partnership Plan moves forward

November 16th, 2009

Today, Ottawa City Council voted 15 to 9 in favour of the Lansdowne Partnership Plan. The vote followed a 3-day special City Council meeting, where residents and public delegations were given yet another opportunity to share their views and opinions on the future of Lansdowne Park.

I commend each and every one of my Council colleagues for their tireless efforts in reaching this important milestone. It is clear that this group of Councillors is capable of making bold, long-term decisions that are in the best interests of the citizens of Ottawa.

I’d also like to personally thank the many City staff that helped Council throughout this process. In particular, I’d like to applaud our City Manager, Kent Kirkpatrick, for his supreme professionalism in negotiating this complex partnership.

Today’s vote allows the City and our partners to start working to return the neglected Lansdowne site to its former glory. Ottawa residents can look forward to enjoying enhanced green space, a year-round Farmers’ Market, and professional sports as just some of the many features that will restore the historic City property.

We look forward to working alongside our dedicated partners to finally turn Lansdowne into a destination that all Ottawa residents can be proud of.

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We can finally fix Lansdowne

November 9th, 2009

After months of discussion, consultation and debate, your city council is ready to make a decision on the future of Lansdowne Park.    

 

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

 

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