Three east-end councillors celebrate Lansdowne victory

Mirroring the city-wide voting trend, Innes Coun. Rainer Bloess, Cumberland Coun. Rob Jellett and Orléans Coun. Bob Monette supported the proposal, while Beacon Hill/Cyrville Coun. Michel Bellemare voted against it.

“I’m ecstatic,” said Monette, an ardent supporter of Lansdowne Live since its baby stages two years ago. “I put my heart and soul into this. It was exhausting, but it was very satisfying to see the large vote that we got.”

In Monette’s view, the number one reason to support the project came down to history. He recalled his own memories of saving up money from a paper route to buy football season tickets in the end zone – an experience he wants younger generations to appreciate for years to come.

Monette was also enthused that many in the east end will likely gain employment from the building project and that local sports clubs such as the Orléans Bengals and Cumberland Panthers will benefit as well.

“We’ve got the cream of the crop when it comes to ownership,” Monette added, noting OSEG members’ contributions to the Shenkman Arts Centre and the new pool to be built at the Orléans YMCA. “These guys are going to make a go out of this.”

Bloess also spoke of Lansdowne Park’s tradition of hosting sports events and exhibitions as a big reason he supported the proposal.

“We have a decaying, decrepit site there that we let deteriorate over many years,” Bloess noted. “In my mind, there’s a financial solution here that helps the city because we were on the hook for an increasing cost every year.”

Jellett noted that he – as well as Monette and Bloess – believed most people in their wards were supportive of the project based on the feedback they received.

“We certainly heard from a lot of residents that this is a very important piece of land, and let’s make sure that we do it right, and in the end, I think that’s the decision we took,” Jellett added.

Jellett was pleased to see some amendments come to fruition such as the city receiving an earlier financial return on profits, and putting up the site’s greenspace for a design contest – a motion he helped craft with Alta Vista Coun. Peter Hume.

The lack of a competitive process to ensure the city is getting fair value for their money was part of the reason Bellemare voted against the project, although transportation issues were the overriding factor that made him “unable to support the proposal as it stands at this stage.”

“From my standpoint, a major fundamental drawback is that Lansdowne Park is nowhere near rapid transit,” Bellemare said, noting the city will be spending millions on converting the Transitway to light rail with none of Ottawa’s major sports stadiums situated near it. “I think we’re missing an opportunity to connect that with this new stadium that will be paid for with public dollars.”

Council’s final vote to endorse the project and begin construction is expected to occur next June once further plans are etched out for finances, design and transportation.

One sentiment echoed by the three east-end councillors who voted in favour of the proposal was that they know the right decision was made, and that the long, tough debates were worth it.

“I feel like I’ve just been through a 15-round battle with Clive Doucet and I won on a unanimous decision,” said Monette, who squared off with the Glebe’s councillor on many occasions over Lansdowne. “But he was still standing at the end and I have a lot of respect for Coun. Doucet and his fight.

“He had a lot of passion towards it. And all the passion he had against it, I had towards it as well, but in favour of the project.”