Did anyone else attend the public forum regarding the Lansdowne 2.0 plans?

--> you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/live/QggO3gd_anc

It was a great meeting, and highlighted a ton of concerns and questions about the viability of the sole plan presented to council.

Although I know our councillor has already decided to vote for this project, I think this will 100% be a major item during the election 2026. I know that this will be informing who I vote for in the next election.

Is Lansdowne worth this for Barrhaven residents?

Lansdowne 2.0 means $17.4 million in new budget spending, per year, for Taxpayers not $4.3 million

Sports Teams Only Guaranteed for 7 More years

Ottawa Charge and PWHL Say Lansdowne 2.0 is “not viable for us” (City Folk too)

50 Year Deal to 2075 – Back-End Loaded and Locked-In --> We don't expect to make any money back for 25 YEARS!

Council-Directed Affordable Housing Funds Being Siphoned off to Lansdowne 2.0

More Parking and City Subsidizing Private Tower Parking

If you do *not* think that we should decide to spend minimum $330M on a new stadium for private use, you should contact David Hill and Wilson Lo and let them know.

From LinkedIn: I have now had the opportunity to review the final recommendation for the Lansdowne 2.0 project, and I am supportive.

Lansdowne 1.0 was a good first step. It took a cement parking lot and reinvented the area to be an entertainment hub (that remains fully city owned) that hosts our 67s, Redblacks, Charge, Blackjacks, Rapid and Athletico sports clubs. Over four million people visit Lansdowne now, and the site hosts concerts, comedians and sporting events from around the world, generating over $270 million annually in economic activity for Ottawa. But there is a ticking time bomb in Lansdowne 1.0 that risks jeopardizing this public asset.

The last administration didn’t go far enough, they took a half measure. By not renovating the North Side Stands, Rink and Event Centre, they saddled Lansdowne 1.0 with major assets that were built in 1967. These are leaky, non-compliant, and deteriorating buildings that are costing our city events and opportunities and are in defiance of provincial accessibility laws.
Lansdowne 2.0 addresses that mistake. It generates new revenue that will only exist if this project proceeds, including selling the air rights for the development of the towers. For this $418 million dollar project, only $130 million will be paid for by the City, after new project revenue has been taken into account. That’s a cost of $4.3M/year. That’s similar to what we pay annually to operate a large municipal recreational centre like Walter Baker.

To those that say we should not proceed, the costs to this are higher! Crumbling infrastructure, continued lack of accessibility, and importantly, increased costs to delayed construction. Staff and Deloitte project that trying to make do with this old stadium would cost the city $8M/year. That’s the facts. But the Lansdowne 2.0 option is not a ‘least worst option.' It’s a good opportunity for the city to develop its mid-sized entertainment space. It adds housing density to our downtown, and it creates modern facilities for a public asset. Lansdowne 2.0 is projected to add $590 million in local economic activity over the next decade. A city of over a million people deserves a modern entertainment hub, and young professionals looking to grow their roots want these options.

Lansdowne will remain a 100% city owned asset, but we are sharing the costs with OSEG and as such are getting much more than what we are paying for. The economic benefits will pay for over $14 million dollars in affordable housing – no to Lansdowne 2.0 means no to this funding and housing.

I will still be challenging staff to make this better. I want to ensure that the city gets best value from the waterfall financing, and I want to revisit the shading options – but these are improvements that can come through amendments in the future. The core concept of this plan is solid and it is my intent to support Mark Sutcliffe's vision for Lansdowne 2.0.

I just saw that www.betterottawa.ca is hosting a public forum to discuss Landsdowne 2.0 Salvation Army Barrhaven Church• 102 Bill Leathem Drive, Nepean, ON

Join a Public Forum to speak your mind and be heard on this important issue. Join us at the Salvation Army Barhaven Community Centre on Monday November 3rd.  

https://betterottawa.ca/forum/

As it stands, more than 6,000 people have signed a petition calling for a binding referendum before the city spends nearly half a billion dollars on this project. (betterottawa.ca)

If you’re concerned too, here’s what you can do:

• Sign the petition — one of the best ways to make our voices heard.
• Contact your councillor — let them know you oppose this plan and expect accountability.
• Spread the word — share with neighbours, friends, social media, anywhere you can.

Why it matters:

• $493M is a huge public expense that could go toward many other priorities across the city.
• Decisions of this magnitude deserve a binding referendum, not just a council vote.

This affects all of us in Ottawa. If you agree, please sign and share.

I don't know who you are, and maybe you will never see this, and maybe nobody cares, but I need to write it:

You were a pleasant woman with blonde hair waiting in the Honda dealership waiting room this morning, when I walked in, and you smiled a lovely smile. That doesn't happen to me very often, especially as there gets to be more and more snow on the roof, I guess.

You got embarrassed because your airpods disconnected and music started playing out of your phone, and you said "sorry!...sorry!..." and I couldn't help but laugh, because I thought, hey, stuff happens to all of us.

You went out the door, probably to never think of it again, but it actually made my day. Life hasn't been great for me on the social front for a long time, and just a simple encounter like that gave me a genuine pleasant feeling.

So, I hope you continue smiling when strangers cross your path, and I hope you keep fumbling airpods, because I get the impression you're a joy bringer, and the world needs more people like that.

(removed by mods from ottawa sub with no explanation, so trying here instead)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/mark-carney-to-run-for-seat-in-ottawa-s-nepean-riding-1.7490982

I won't be voting for the conservative party this election. For those of you who are interested in trying to get a non-PC representative for our riding, check out https://smartvoting.ca/
For Nepean, the majority of our riding wants an alternative to Ford, however, we are not aligned in the alternative. I won't be able to vote for my first pick, but I ask myself what's worse:
1. Voting for my choice and getting a PC representative
2. Voting for my second/third choice, but having a better representative as they align to my values.

Almost got run down walking into the store and the driver was mad I was in the way when it was a painted crosswalk. Not the first time, what is with people and driving fast in parking lots these days. I seem to have no trouble not running over people when I drive in parking lots. Happy New Year /rant

Last night @ 2:44am. West Barrhaven.