Lansdowne 2.0

The City of Ottawa has received a proposal from the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) to strengthen the partnership and redevelop the site to make it financially stable for the long term and address rehabilitation of the infrastructure.

Proposal

The proposal is to demolish the existing North Stadium Stands and arena complex, and build a new, world-class Event Centre and North Stadium Stands. This new public infrastructure will make the venues accessible, sustainable, and better position

Lansdowne as an iconic, landmark site. New retail podium and additional residential units are also included within the proposal.

Project update

The Lansdowne 2.0 Project team has been preparing to bring forward a report to Finance and Corporate Services Committee on a revised Funding Strategy and Business Case for the Revitalization of Lansdowne 2.0. Three streams of work are being undertaken as part of this report to Committee and Council; Financial Due Diligence, City Initiated Planning Application, Request for Expression of Interest.

Financial Due Diligence

Staff are underway on the Financial Due Diligence review as part of the Lansdowne 2.0 project with the aid of Ernst and Young (3rd party consultant) retained by the City. The City and their consultant are exploring a variety of inputs on the Financial Model including but not limited to;

• Cost to Construct
• Retail Strategy
• Podium Financing
• Affordable Housing
• Unit Typology
• Financial Risk Analysis
• Accessible Roof / Green Roof
• Alternate Financing Options
• North Side Stands Roof / Canopy
• Proforma Projections
• REOI Findings

Planning Process update

The City has hired its consulting team for the City initiated planning process to support the Lansdowne 2.0 project. The consulting team is currently underway with exploring the Lansdowne 2.0 proposal (new event centre, new north side stands, new retail podium, up to 1200 units of residential within high-rise towers of up to 40 storeys), and will deliver the following reports and studies as part of the City initiated planning application launching in June 2023:

• Planning Rationale and Design Brief
• Conceptual Site Plan and Massing Analysis & Alternatives
• Shadow Study
• Wind Study
• Transportation Impact Assessment
• Heritage Impact Assessment
• Functional Servicing Report
• Geotechnical and Hydrogeological Report

Request for Expression of Interest update

The City launched its Request for Expression of Interest process by posting the Lansdowne Park Revitalization Air Rights Development Opportunity on MERX April 14th, 2023 (MERX is Canada’s leading electronic tendering service, with the most complete source of public and private sector contract opportunities available in Canada). The REOI document is used to gather useful information from potential respondents and will test and refine the Lansdowne 2.0 project vision prior to the more formal Request for Proposal (RFP) process. The deadline for the solicitation of the REOI closes on June 9th, 2023, and City Staff will summarize the findings within the revised Funding Strategy and Business Case report to Finance and Corporate Services Committee.

Public Engagement update

The City launched the first phase of public consultation beginning with a city-wide survey on the overall Concept Plan. This survey has received nearly 2000 responses and has helped city staff understand the general publics knowledge and understanding of the overall Proposal.

The City has held two separate public information sessions, focusing on the overall Concept Plan on April 27th and the Urban Park/Public Realm plan on May 17th. Both sessions had over 150 residents attend. Presentation materials, FAQ’s, and As We Heard It Reports can also be found on Engage Ottawa. The May 17th Public Information Session As We Heard It Report will be released in the coming weeks.

Ongoing public consultation, education, and awareness will feature on-site engagement, public information sessions and workshops.

In the coming weeks, we will be launching the Lansdowne 2.0 Coffee Chat series, a weekly gathering where staff or the public can ask questions, learn about the project, and share your thoughts directly with the Director of the Lansdowne 2.0 Project from the comfort of your home or office.

The coffee chats will be held every Wednesday starting on June 14 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM on Zoom. You can register for a coffee chat with the Director here.

Urban Park and Public Realm Update

As part of the Lansdowne Partnership Sustainability Plan and Implementation Report July 2022 report, Council approved the next steps in the redevelopment of the Urban

Park/Public Realm to create a strategic public investment plan of capital improvements to enhance site animation, programming, and public access.

On Wednesday May 17, 2023, the City hosted a public engagement session on the Lansdowne Public Realm/Urban Park and engaged with residents to prioritize the 25 ideas that have been captured from various consultation efforts and were included in the July 2022 report as Document 2 - Strategic Investment Plan for the Urban Park and Public Realm. Staff also received many new ideas that will be reviewed for consideration.

The survey is live on Engage Ottawa, and you can access it here.

For engagement opportunities, project material and updates, visit Engage Ottawa.

Any questions, comments, or concerns can be sent to LansdowneRenewal@Ottawa.ca.

We thank you for your continued input and engagement and we look forward to shaping the future of Lansdowne Park together!

The release of the "As We Heard It" report for the April 27th public session is now available here.

Over 150 residents attended the session that consisted of a presentation on the overall Concept Plan, the Air Rights and Request for Expression of Interest (REOI), the business model with the financial strategy, and a Question and Answer period. The presentation is also available here.

Thank you to the participants whom attended and provided their feedback.

In the "April 27 - As We Heard It " report, There are a few outstanding questions we are working on and will follow up in the coming weeks.

The release of the "Concept Plan Survey - As We Heard It" report is also now available here. Over 1800 responses to the survey were received.

Thank you everyone who completed the survey.

Please stay turned on Engage Ottawa for information and updates.

Thank you everyone for attending our virtual public information session on Thursday April 27th.

The PowerPoint that was presented can be found here and we will be releasing an As We Heard It Report in the coming weeks summarizing the discussion and feedback that we received.

As part of the Lansdowne 2.0 project and as a follow up to the many ideas that have come forward through various public consultations held for the Aberdeen Square and the Urban Park, the City would like to hear from you on the prioritization of the list of ideas that have been brought forward and gleaned from the public through previous engagements. The intent to improve the site by making the urban park more welcoming and support increased use of the park for an enhanced public experience.

Please join us on May 17^th at 6pm for a virtual engagement session on the Lansdowne 2.0 Public Realm/Urban Park. You can register by following this link. Please send any questions in advance of the engagement session to LansdowneRenewal@Ottawa.ca.

Please stay tuned and subscribe here for more news and project updates. We look forward to your continued participation in the Lansdowne 2.0 project.

The Lansdowne Project Team

Lansdowne Park is an iconic landmark in the city of Ottawa, known for its vibrant community events, sports facilities, and retail outlets. As the park continues to evolve, the City of Ottawa is committed to keeping the public informed of its progress. In that regard, we are excited to announce the Lansdowne 2.0 public information session scheduled for April 27 at 6 pm on Zoom. Please follow this link to register for this session. Feel free to send any questions in advance of the public information session to LansdowneRenewal@ottawa.ca

The public information session aims to provide an update on the latest developments at Lansdowne Park, including plans for the future. Whether you're a resident, business owner, or simply interested in the park's future, this is an opportunity to learn about the vision for Lansdowne 2.0.

Ahead of the public information session, the City of Ottawa is also providing supporting material in the form of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and definitions also the schematic design drawings for the Event Centre, North Side Stands and Retail Podium. These documents are designed to provide answers to common queries and help attendees understand the terminology used in the presentation.

The FAQ covers a range of topics, including how the funding strategy is developed, and the ‘waterfall’ agreement. The definitions document provides explanations of common terms used in the presentation, such as "Air Rights" and "Retail podium."

The public information session is an excellent opportunity to engage with the City of Ottawa and gain insight into the plans for Lansdowne Park. By attending the session and reviewing the supporting materials, you can be part of the conversation and help shape the future of this iconic landmark.

We look forward to seeing you there.

The City launched a city-wide survey on the overall Concept Plan. This survey has helped city staff understand the resident’s awareness and understanding of the overall proposal, ownership and usage of existing facilities and amenities at Lansdowne Park. A better understanding of why residents do or do not frequent Lansdowne Park, and how we can make this site sustainable for all.

As of April 05, there has been over 1500 survey responses. City staff will produce an As We Heard It report based on engagement through March in the coming weeks. This report will be published on the City’s Lansdowne Park 2.0 Engage Ottawa webpage.

The survey is still open for responses and we encourage you to take part if you still have not had a change to participate.

The upcoming round of public consultation, education, and awareness in April will feature surveys, on-site engagement, public information sessions and workshops on the funding strategy and business model, and the air rights process.

The City will host a virtual public information and consultation session on Thursday April 27, 2023 at 6:00pm. The topics for this session will include: the overall proposal, the funding strategy and business model, and the air rights process including the Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI). Staff will provide a presentation and host a comment, question and answer period. Please follow this link to register for this session. Feel free to send any questions in advance of the public information session to LansdowneRenewal@ottawa.ca

Please stay tuned and subscribe for more news and project updates.

The City of Ottawa is launching our public engagement efforts for Lansdowne 2.0!

The Lansdowne 2.0 project team has developed a robust engagement strategy to ensure that the public gets the chance to voice their ideas, input, and perspectives on the project.

The consultation will last several months and is going to include a series of online and in-person surveys, a newsletter, community consultation workshops, business consultation workshops, as well as a number of pop-up engagement activities. These will provide residents and businesses with the opportunity to learn more about the project, ask questions, and provide feedback.

The first opportunity is the Concept Plan survey for the Lansdowne 2.0 project.

The survey is an important step in the public engagement process and residents are encouraged to provide feedback on the project's concept plans.

The survey is now available here.

Your input will help shape the future of Lansdowne Park. To stay up to date about upcoming engagement opportunities, please click the “subscribe” button on the right side of this page.

We look forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions about Lansdowne 2.0, you can contact the project team at lansdownerenewal@ottawa.ca.

Key Dates

March 2023

• Online Survey #1

Spring & Summer 2023

• Public engagement opportunities for:
  1. Lansdowne 2.0 concept plan
  2. City-initiated Zoning By-law amendment
  3. Urban Park and public realm
  4. Active transportation and transit
• Public education and awareness on the business model & sale of air rights
• Launch of City-initiated Zoning By-law amendment
• “As we heard it” report
• Funding Strategy and Business Model goes to Finance and Corporate Services Committee for consideration
• Funding Strategy and Business Model goes to Council for consideration

Fall 2023

• Incorporate public feedback into final concept plan
• Zoning report goes to Planning and Housing Committee for consideration
• Zoning report goes to City Council for consideration

2024

• Next steps on site plan, design, and construction

The Lansdowne 2.0 project is a complex initiative that involves numerous components, phases, and concepts. To ensure clarity and consistency throughout the project, a comprehensive document has been created that outlines the key terms and definitions associated with Lansdowne 2.0.

You can access the document here.

• October 2007: The City of Ottawa initiates a redevelopment of Lansdowne Park due to cracks discovered in the stadium.
• October 2008: OSEG proposes a plan to revitalize Lansdowne Park by entering into a partnership with the City of Ottawa.
• April 2009: City Council directs City staff to work with OSEG to develop a plan to revitalize Lansdowne Park.
• September 2009: City of Ottawa staff and OSEG present City Council with a plan to redevelop and transform Lansdowne Park under a Lansdowne Partnership Plan (LPP).
• November 2009: City Council approves the Lansdowne Partnership Plan and directs staff to negotiate a project agreement framework with OSEG.
• June 2010: City Council approves the Lansdowne Partnership Plan and Implementation Report and votes to proceed with sole-source negotiations with OSEG after reviewing studies on the proposal.
• June 2011: Ontario Municipal Board Decision on Lansdowne
• October 2012: The legal closing of the LPP is approved by City Council and the City enters into a 30-year partnership with OSEG.
• November 2012: Construction begins on the redevelopment of Lansdowne Park.
• August 2014: Construction completed and Lansdowne Park reopens.
• November 2019: A report goes to City Council identifying significant financial challenges to the partnership.
• December 2020: Following the Lansdowne Annual Report and COVID-19 Impacts Update report, City Council extends the LPP to 40 years and directs City staff to work with OSEG to explore options that will enhance the sustainability and financial viability of the partnership.
• June 2021: City Council approves the Lansdowne Park Partnership: Path to Sustainability and Next Steps report, which includes the framework for improving the LPP’s sustainability, and directs staff to negotiate with OSEG to develop a proposal to revitalize Lansdowne Park.
• June 2022: City Council approves the Lansdowne Partnership Sustainability Plan and Implementation Report and directs staff to renegotiate the LPP and to work with OSEG to develop the proposed concept plan.

Public consultation coming soon

With the report now approved by Council, staff will begin the city-initiated rezoning included in the concept plan, which includes public consultation.

A report will come back to Council before construction can proceed that will include what was heard during the multiple consultation activities. Throughout this process, City staff will provide regular progress updates to the community and stakeholders aiming to inform as many residents as possible via the City’s various communications channels. Creating a sustainable Lansdowne Park will be an exercise that will require the input of a broad and diverse group of voices and perspective from across the city and beyond. We want to maximize public involvement with the goal of receiving a variety of ideas, inputs and perspectives.

We want our public engagement activities to be, accessible, meaningful, and engaging. Engagement activities will be a mix of online activities and in-person/virtual sessions to ensure that residents has an opportunity to provide input on the project.

The goal of public consultation is to increase public interest in the project, collect feedbacks and also help City staff create a sustainable Lansdowne Park together.