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Proposals for redeveloping LeBreton Flats need to show more imagination than building a hockey arena, says the city councillor who represents the ward.
“We asked the (private) sector to come back and give us their best to create vision for the last big piece of public land in downtown Ottawa, the capital of Canada. And you get to choose between two hockey arenas. It’s hugely disappointing,” said Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney.
“We have a blank slate. Let’s do something exciting.”
Four development teams were shortlisted by the NCC last February to present ideas, but only two submitted final proposals: Rendez Vous LeBreton, which includes Senators Sports & Entertainment, and DCDLS Group, formerly Devcore Group. Both proposals offer an NHL-calibre arena as their centrepiece.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday after meeting with area Liberal MPs, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said he was ” hoping there would be the four bidders. It would give different visions for what LeBreton would look like.”
Ottawa Centre MP Catherine McKenna added that LeBreton is “a key piece of land. As the mayor said, it would be great to see a broad range of options.”
Both Watson and McKenna said they have little information about the two proposals or why the other two bidders, Claridge Homes and Focus Equities, dropped out.
There’s all kinds of reasons why locating an NHL arena downtown would be a good idea, including the proximity of public transit and the rejuvenating effect it would have on the area, said McKenney. But as NCC land, LeBreton belongs to all Canadians, she argued.
“Hockey arenas are exclusive, not inclusive. Aside from breathing, everything costs money,” she said. “A lot of people want a downtown arena (but) I just don’t think this is place for it.”
McKenney suggests public uses could include greenspace or a major cultural institution such as a museum. But she also believes affordable housing should be in the mix. The LeBreton Flats were expropriated in the 1960s to make way for redevelopment including government offices and an entire working class district was displaced by demolition. The redevelopment plan never went ahead because the soil was contaminated. Offering some affordable housing on the site is an obligation, said McKenney.
“It’s the last chance we have to do it right.”
Watson reiterated that there will be no city funding for an arena. “I’ve indicated that we don’t have the capacity and we wouldn’t ’t put tax dollars into a private enterprise.”
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“We asked the (private) sector to come back and give us their best to create vision for the last big piece of public land in downtown Ottawa, the capital of Canada. And you get to choose between two hockey arenas. It’s hugely disappointing,” said Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney.
“We have a blank slate. Let’s do something exciting.”
Four development teams were shortlisted by the NCC last February to present ideas, but only two submitted final proposals: Rendez Vous LeBreton, which includes Senators Sports & Entertainment, and DCDLS Group, formerly Devcore Group. Both proposals offer an NHL-calibre arena as their centrepiece.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday after meeting with area Liberal MPs, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said he was ” hoping there would be the four bidders. It would give different visions for what LeBreton would look like.”
Ottawa Centre MP Catherine McKenna added that LeBreton is “a key piece of land. As the mayor said, it would be great to see a broad range of options.”
Both Watson and McKenna said they have little information about the two proposals or why the other two bidders, Claridge Homes and Focus Equities, dropped out.
There’s all kinds of reasons why locating an NHL arena downtown would be a good idea, including the proximity of public transit and the rejuvenating effect it would have on the area, said McKenney. But as NCC land, LeBreton belongs to all Canadians, she argued.
“Hockey arenas are exclusive, not inclusive. Aside from breathing, everything costs money,” she said. “A lot of people want a downtown arena (but) I just don’t think this is place for it.”
McKenney suggests public uses could include greenspace or a major cultural institution such as a museum. But she also believes affordable housing should be in the mix. The LeBreton Flats were expropriated in the 1960s to make way for redevelopment including government offices and an entire working class district was displaced by demolition. The redevelopment plan never went ahead because the soil was contaminated. Offering some affordable housing on the site is an obligation, said McKenney.
“It’s the last chance we have to do it right.”
Watson reiterated that there will be no city funding for an arena. “I’ve indicated that we don’t have the capacity and we wouldn’t ’t put tax dollars into a private enterprise.”
查看原文...
