The National Capital Commission has launched public consultations for a project that would revitalize the Richmond Landing area near LeBreton Flats, including a pulp mill central to Ottawa’s history.
“We want to make the shoreline more accessible,” says NCC media manager Jean Wolff.
The project aims to draw more visitors to the landing and the former Bronson pulp mill a short distance to the west, making them more accessible via multi-use pathways and pedestrian bridges connecting the shoreline area to the island.
While much of the focus is on expanding the landing’s accessibility, the proposed revitalization also serves to remind the public of the natural history, industrial heritage and military heritage of the area.
“We look forward to the NCC’s proposals for interpretation of the built heritage, aboriginal history and the cultural landscape,” says Heritage Ottawa board member Linda Hoad.
The proposal is inspired by the significant historical importance of the area to Ottawa, as the city could be said to have evolved from activity centred around Richmond Landing and nearby Chaudière Falls. The landing was named after Charles Lennox, Duke of Richmond, an early governor-general of Canada who famously died from rabies during a visit to the future Ottawa in 1819.
Henry Bronson established a mill in the area that became a significant part of the foresty products industry – the city’s economic foundation – in the 19th century.
Currently, though, the derelict pulp mill site is notable only to most residents for its intricate spiral staircase and as a visual reminder of its economic legacy – something the NCC plans to highlight.
The NCC also plans to provide greater insight into the aboriginal heritage of the area, an issue raised by a number of local citizens who spoke critically at an Oct. 2 city planning meeting about the proposed Windmill Developments proposal to create a huge mixed-use community at Chaudiere and Albert islands near Richmond Landing.
“The area is unceded Algonquin territory, (and) the Royal Proclamation of 1763 prohibited settlement of Aboriginal lands unless they were first ceded to or purchased by the Crown,” said presenter Lindsay Lambert at the meeting, who went on to explain “this was not done.”
While the NCC already has several proposals for the shoreline development, the federal agency’s deadline on the project is in 2017.
NCC officials recently led a public tour of the area.
“We used the tour to gauge interest in the project and hear the public’s ideas,” says Wolff. “We wanted to hear what the public wanted before we make any large changes.”
The NCC’s proposal document says the next steps would be to develop partnerships with the surrounding businesses and Ottawa-area aboriginal communities, followed by environmental studies prior to construction activity slated to start by 2016.