By Karen Pinchin
The long-disputed Millennium Garden in Chinatown will never be built unless a community group steps forward to take the lead on the project, according to Somerset Ward Coun. Diane Holmes.
“Unless that happens, the project isn’t going to happen,” says Holmes. She adds that the current status of the plan is indeterminate.
“The project will come to an end and we will have to return people’s money and let them know there is no such thing as the Millennium Garden.”
Construction of the garden, which was to be built on the corner of Somerset Street West and Cambridge Street, has been in the planning stages since 2000, with more than $90,000 in funds raised.
Disputes between the Somerset Heights Business Improvement Association (BIA) and developers of the land, including designer Edwin Lee, slowed the project to a near-standstill in September.
The BIA is a business organization that oversees the management, development and beautification of the Chinatown area.
It is accountable to board members and the City of Ottawa and is the legal representative of the Millennium Garden.
“It’s embarrassing but if it has to be done then it has to be done,” says Jonas Ma, garden donor and president of the Ottawa chapter of the Chinese Canadian National Council on the looming cancellation of the project. “We did waste a lot of time and energy.”
Ma stresses funds raised for the garden are still available and there is still desire in the Chinese community for the project to take place.
Materials for the garden were donated by the City of Beijing, and the mayor’s office has previously expressed concern that returning these materials could be embarrassing.
Designer Edwin Lee says the project still could still go ahead.
“There’s no point to cancelling the project,” he says.
“I’m completely open as long as they want to work together to finish this garden,” says Lee. “I’m willing to work with anybody. I just want us to have a symbol in Chinatown.”
According to Lee, the BIA no longer wants to work on the project, which has delayed its construction. He says the final decision is in the hands of the city, which needs to be convinced the community wants the garden.
“The mayor said that if the community wants to have it, then it can happen,” says Lee.
The mayor’s office declined to comment on the issue.
Kenneth Kwan, a member of the BIA who has been very involved with the garden, says this project wasn’t worth the headaches, mostly due to Lee’s involvement.
“Mr. Lee was way too difficult to deal with,” says Kwan. “We actually let him go, over a year ago, but he’s been basically coming back, coming back, coming back, stalling the project.”
Kwan says the BIA is starting a new project, as the $90,000 is still available, although they will have to go through the approval process at city hall.
“There’s the feeling that people still want a garden,” says Kwan.
“We don’t want to deal with Mr. Lee anymore.”
If the project is indeed restarted, Ma says he thinks it should be done in a way that is accountable, efficient and transparent, which hasn’t always been the case.
Some say personal disagreements appear to have played a role in the delay on the project.
“Mr. Lee and the BIA do not get along very well and this has been a problem,” says Holmes. “It is certainly time to go to the public and explain.”