The power struggle between Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Regional Chair Bob Chiarelli over redeveloping Lansdowne Park is more than just a political showdown.
It’s a sign that the city hasn’t given enough thought to how to develop the area.
Mayor Watson and the city are eager to let the private sector take Lansdowne off their hands, but they now have to contend with the fact that the region has a say in the matter. While Lansdowne is owned by the city, any major changes to the area must be approved by regional council.
Watson has accused Chiarelli of butting into city affairs, but the scuffle is not just about territorial rights.
Chiarelli says he is voicing his concern on behalf of the many people who have asked him to intervene in the matter. There is also a grassroots effort to save Frank Clair stadium, which will be demolished if the contract is awarded to one of three developers currently vying for it.
Chiarelli’s response to public concern and the growing effort to save the stadium shows that not everyone wants the trendy condos and restaurants that developers envision for Lansdowne.
The city seems primarily concerned with the financial bottom line when it comes to Lansdowne, and with good reason. The park has been a constant drain on city coffers, racking up $1.4 million in losses last year alone.
But there’s more to this than just dollar figures. Lansdowne is one of the city’s most prized properties. As such, we should consider what best serves the city and public interest.
If we want to focus on public service, the city should maintain some sort of sports facility instead of some fancy real estate that a select few can afford.
Award the Lansdowne developing contract to one of the three developers currently bidding for it and a number of opportunities will be lost.
Events such as the Francophone Games, to be held at the stadium in 2001, will no longer have a viable venue in Ottawa. Any remote hope for the CFL in Ottawa, and the economic spin-offs it generates for surrounding business areas, will be dashed. The city’s only professional football field and outdoor stadium will be irrevocably lost.
There are a lot of suggestions and concerns over what Lansdowne could and should be, and this is at the heart of the headbutting between Watson and Chiarelli.
But it also shows that the city must start listening to a public that is showing signs of realizing just what will be lost if development plans for Lansdowne aren’t challenged.
— Jennifer Lee, Crystal Kingwell