Lansdowne 2.0

Here are the answers to the most common questions I was asked about Lansdowne 2.0

Why did you give $400 million to a private developer?

I did no such thing. I would never vote to give a developer a blank cheque.

What we voted on was not the final approval or even a list of projects. What council agreed was to continue the process that will lead to an eventual negotiation, which we will do once we receive the Auditor General report.

Council will have the final say to reject or agree the terms of the result of that negotiation.

What are we doing then?

Council will be voting project by project for the next phase of Lansdowne. The only project on the books that is certain is the new Events Centre and North Side Stands, which was voted on unanimously by council back in June 2022 (before I was elected)

Lansdowne Partnership Sustainability Plan and Implementation Report – City Council – June 08, 2022 (escribemeetings.com)

What about the pressing needs in our ward?

I agree that we have huge needs in our ward and have voted consistently to increase budgets for transit, housing and to spread our social services more evenly across the city. But Lansdowne is a city asset, and we need to maintain our city assets. I was also very concerned about the accessibility issues that many delegates discussed during our public meetings. To have a widely used city asset that welcomes thousands of people every week and hosts professional sports teams but cannot accommodate people in wheelchairs is, in my view, unacceptable.

Lansdowne has not made any money.

As indicated above, Lansdowne is a city asset. None of our city assets make money. None of our community centres, libraries or parks make money. The City has benefited from additional property tax revenue from the commercial properties on the site and cost savings from not having to operate the site anymore. We will also be offsetting the cost with the sale of air rights of which 25% percent will go to affordable housing. I think it’s a good use city land for housing and I look forward to supporting this in other areas of the city.

But what about the shadow studies and neighbourhood character arguments against the towers?

Many planning lawyers have told me those are not valid arguments to deny intensification, so I did not find them compelling. I also would have voted for the third tower had those options been on the table. We need housing and areas like the Glebe are as close to downtown as Vanier.

I don’t like Landsdowne because you have to pay to park.

You have to pay to park at most places downtown. I would encourage you to walk or take transit or take advantage the closed Queen Elizabeth Drive in the summer to get from Ward 12 to Landsdowne (which I unequivocally support).

Do you go to Landsdowne?

I have been to a few Blackjacks games. I have also had meetings related to the Panda game but I’m not there often. I was not around for Landsdowne 1.0 but my predecessor voted for it too. I like the pedestrianization of the area and look forward to encouraging similar public realm in the Byward Market.