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ISSN 0702-7796 Vol. 50 No. 4 Issue no. 544 FREE
Proposals for Lansdowne 2.0 losing money. Important questions remain outstanding. For example, are 1,200 units the appropriate number for this site? Can current municipal infrastructure support that many new units? Is the type of new housing being proposed (one- and two-bedroom condominiums) the kind of new housing that Ottawa needs at the moment? With Lansdowne being public land, should the City use its leverage with prospective developers and require a significant increase in deeply affordable units (units that cost way less than 80 per cent market rent)? Given the affordable housing crisis in our city, surely the City can significantly increase the amount of affordable housing and make it a condition in the sale of air rights, even if this ends up costing the City money.
By Anthony Carricato The City of Ottawa has been working with the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) over the past year to develop a plan to make Lansdowne financially self-sustaining, and their revitalization plans were shared on April 20 during a meeting of the Lansdowne Stakeholder Sounding Board. In short, there are major changes being proposed in what is becoming known as Lansdowne 2.0.
New arena and replacement of the north stands
Less than 10 years after the City invested $136 million to renovate and update the Civic Centre and improve the north stands, city staff and OSEG are recommending these city-owned assets be demolished and replaced. The north stands would be rebuilt with fewer seats, and a new 5,500 seat arena/event centre (the existing Civic Centre has 9,500 seats) would be built under an expanded berm that would be inaccessible, and result in reduction of usable park space. The location of the proposed arena is curious, given the City is aware that the soil under the berm is toxic and they will have to pay to remove it. When Lansdowne was redeveloped in 2012, the City determined that soil remediation was too expensive, which is why the berm is there today. The new, smaller arena is expected to improve the fan experience, increase attendance at Ottawa 67s games and fill a gap in Ottawa by providing a contemporary “medium-sized” venue for mid-sized music and cultural events that are currently bypassing Ottawa on national tours. The City believes this new venue will support its music
Proposed concepts for Lansdowne 2.0. shared at the Lansdowne Stakeholder 42 Proposal to theMeeting City of Ottawa Sounding Board in April. Proposals include building three new condo towers, a new and smaller arena and new north-side stands. PHOTOS: COURTESY OF OSEG
strategy, supplement the offerings of existing music festivals and ultimately enhance the tourism appeal of Ottawa. If the City is serious about achieving its climate objectives, it should take this opportunity to build a carbon neutral arena/event venue.
More housing at Lansdowne and the sale of air rights
Three 20-plus-storey towers are being proposed next to the new north stands on Exhibition Way, creating 1,200 new dwelling units of which 120 units (or 10 per cent) are required to be “affordable.” In selling the air rights to build these high-rises, the City will look for a buyer
that will be required to find a partner to operate the affordable units for the next 50 years. Regrettably, the units will not be deeply affordable; rather, they are being proposed as “low-end of market” (80 per cent of the average market rent currently found in the Glebe). Rezoning will be required to add more housing since the current zoning only permits 280 units at Lansdowne. Steve Willis, the City’s general manager for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development, says the large number of units being proposed and limiting affordable units to 10 per cent were integral to making the revitalization plans self-financing and prevent the City from
Improvements to the heritage buildings and Aberdeen Square
Under the plan, there would also be much-needed repairs to heritage buildings at Lansdowne Park, including to the roof and floor of the Aberdeen Pavilion. The Horticultural Building would get heating and air conditioning, to make it more useable during winter cold spells and summer heat waves, along with technical upgrades needed to support events and programming. Aberdeen Square would see a facelift to enhance it with more trees, shade and outdoor seating, and improvements to better accommodate pedestrian access and active transportation.
Financial Plan to rely on “air rights” and diverting new property taxes from towers
OSEG and the City worked with Deloitte on a cash-flow model Continued on page 2
Index
Mark Your Calendars
ABBOTSFORD ����������������������������� 14 ART......................................... 26-28 BIRDS...........................................20 BOOKS...................................22, 23 COVID...........................................16 ELECTION...................................7, 8 FILM.......................................24, 25 FOOD............................................ 21 GARAGE SALE����������������������������� 12 GLEBE HISTORY ������������������������� 32 GLEBOUS & COMICUS ��������������� 35 HOMES......................................... 31 LANSDOWNE..............................1-3 MEMOIR.......................................33 PARKS..........................................19 PLANNING....................................30 REFUGEES.................................... 15 REPS & ORGS................ 6, 9-11, 29 SCHOOLS..................................... 37 SENIORS................................13, 28 TULIP FESTIVAL ��������������������������36
What’s Inside
Canadian Tulip Festival............... May 13 – 22, Commissioners Park GACA Community Clean-up........ May 14, 10:30 a.m. – 12, Dalhousie South Park Glebe Report AGM........................................ May 17, 7:30 p.m., online GACA AGM.............................................................May 18, 7 p.m., online GCA monthly meeting......................................... May 24, 7 p.m. online Great Glebe Garage Sale..............................................................May 28 Doors Open Ottawa................................................................... June 4 – 5 The New Art Festival........................... June 11–12, 10 a.m. – 5p.m., Central Park GCA AGM..............................................................June 14, 7 p.m., online Mary Tsai retirement BBQ...................................... June 16, 6 – 8 p.m. Glebe Art in our Gardens & Studio Tour............................ July 9 – 10
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Election candidates.................................................Page 7, 8
Journey from Odessa................................................. Page 15
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