Just say no
City Council will apparently be voting on the Lansdowne Live proposal on Monday. As time has gone on, my out-and-out opposition to the OSEG proposal has tempered from “the proposed plan is terrible, and should be stopped” to “the proposed plan is mediocre, lacking any kind of vision.” Perhaps it was the public consultations that didn’t consult the public. Or maybe it’s the reports that most of Council supports the OSEG proposal.
In any case, here’s hoping that our municipal government puts the Lansdowne Live proposal on ice and runs an open design competition. If OSEG is the best the world has to offer, let’s do it. Otherwise, let’s go with a plan that involves some public space, and perhaps even a few sports fields for Ottawans.
On the off chance our councilors are still listening to what their constituents have to say, I sent the following with letsgetitright.ca.
Please vote against the Lansdowne Live proposal.
The OSEG proposal is unimaginative and would add little to Ottawa’s public life. The plan shown during consultations provides no public space, nothing to attract residents outside of shopping, fewer sports facilities than are at Lansdowne presently, and is financially predicated on the success of a CFL team. Lansdowne must be redeveloped, but the new facility should be something that all Ottawans can enjoy, not just CFL fans and up-market shoppers.
Instead of taking the first proposal to come along, Council should reopen the design competition and choose the best proposal on offer. Please vote against the Lansdowne Live proposal.
Update: One of the Councillors actually responded. Alex Cullen (or one of his minions) wrote back:
Thank you for this – I share your views.
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Nice. I dig both the sentiment and the signature.
