P3’s @ Landsdowne Live

As Larry 0’s trial was nearing, a number of pretenders to began to position themselves for the crown, in case zero-means-zero fell on his sword. Among the pretenders Rick Chiarelli advanced a plan for the redevelopment of Landsdowne Park that would highlight his consensus making ability. Chiarelli’s motion gave the promoters of “Landsdowne Live” a 60 day exclusive window to negotiate with the City. Most of the central city councilors voted against the motion, citing amongst other things the questionable ethics of accepting a non-solicited bid, and giving preferential treatment to once group.

Now anyone familiar with Landsdowne will not argue that something has to happen with the acres or Parking lot that surround the stadium and ruin this choice site along the Rideau Canal.




Most also agree that the historic features such as Aberdeen Pavillion should be preserved in any development and that some sort of sports facility should be retained.




However, most disagree with the scale and style of the redevelopment, especially in reference to the now condemned and partially destroyed stadium. The “Landsdowne Live” plan proposes a new stadium to host a new CFL franchise (Rough Riders III), a hotel complex, an aquarium, and some large-scale retail space. The promoters are among the heavy hitters in the development game and have surely done their homework on the profitability of their venture. However, what makes this idea dubious is the redevelopment depends on the P3 model.

As others have noted, urban renewal projects, although they adhere neoliberal principles of market-driven development have come to rely and in fact depend on public investment to orchestrate development. The problem is not that the public sector is involved in such projects but that they willingly seed control to the private partner and in effect download the risk or failure to the public sector while keeping the benefits of any development to themselves. At the same time they lessen the possibility for public contestation of the urban renewal project. In short P3 are premised on opaque governance practices, and shaky finances. So when City Councillor Clive Doucet yells loudly (and ineffectively) in the wilderness about the sham process he is right. We should question the process under which the redevelopment is being proposed, as well as the motives of the developers.

Plus, how many games are in a CFL season anyways: 9? Why not build something that might actually get used many more days a year, like an amateur soccer complex...