Lansdowne Live would be a world-class sports and entertainment facility, said a team of developers as they unveiled a proposal for revitalizing Lansdowne Park.
The partnership, consisting of four businessmen, presented on Friday a revitalization plan for Lansdowne Park that includes a stadium, aquarium, amphitheatre and hotel.
"As self-confessed civic boosters, we believe city building is about vision and imagination and what-ifs," said William Shenkman, of the Shenkman Group of Companies.
"But as successful business people, we also know city building is about feasible plans, smart growth that makes use of existing infrastructure, financial prudence and the private and public sector working together."
Roger Greenberg, CEO of The Minto Group, said within the plan the city would be responsible for the retrofit of the stadium and private money would account for the operations and capital repairs afterwards.
"For us to suggest a renovation cost at this point would be sheer speculation," said Minto developer Roger Greenberg, because the city has not yet released the "overdue" results of a study of the stadium done by engineers.
The partnership between Greenberg, Shenkman, Trinity Development Group President John Ruddy and Ottawa 67's owner Jeff Hunt was granted a conditional CFL franchise last spring.
Hunt said the proposed stadium "touches every component of the fan experience" from stadium seating, washrooms and concessions to new dressing rooms, coaches offices and work-out facilities.
"I also think it's significant that Lansdowne Live will be a place people will want to come to early before events and stay after," said Hunt.
While the team projected no changes to the exterior of the Aberdeen Pavilion, it suggested an aquarium be built within the historic building.
To "balance" these large-scale attractions, the plan includes green space and a permanent home for the Ottawa Farmers' Market. The team also proposed a building, located adjacent to the proposed hotel on Bank Street that would act as office space and future retail space.
"We believe this will provide a vital pedestrian-friendly link between Old Ottawa South and the Glebe," said Ruddy.
The team admitted the proposal was just the beginning, as Greenberg called it "Step 2 of 122." A more detailed meeting is scheduled with the city for Monday.
"We are involved in a collaborative process. Details will be fleshed out as the process unfolds with the city and the residents of Ottawa," said Greenberg.