The LeBreton Flats redevelopment needs a fresh start

In the frantic damage controlsince Eugene Melnyk'scompany launched a whopping $700-million lawsuit against his partners in the LeBretonFlats redevelopment project, politicians, bureaucrats and business leaders have delivered a single key message: they are committed to moving forward with this project.

But forward to where?

The only logical and ethical end to this fraught journey is a new bidding process.

The National Capital Commission, which owns the 20-hectare swath of emptyspace and is overseeing its redevelopment, has given itself until January to figure out what it might do now that one partner in theRendezVous LeBretonGroup Melnyk'sCapital Sports Management Inc. is suing another partner, John Ruddy's Trinity Developments.

And while all the officials involved are disappointed in this situation, they insistthat something would happen on this land just outside Ottawa's current downtown core.

Just look at how committed everyone is:

• Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez: "I know how important it is for the NCC andforme, for the government, for the prime minister we're committed to moving forward with this project."
• NCCCEO Mark Kristmanson: "Both the government and the NCC are committed to getting it done not stopping continuing on the process and getting it done."
• Mayor Jim Watson:"I'm certainly very committed to ensuring we see the revitalization, whether it's with this partnership or another partnership."

It's understandable that, havingtravelled so far down a path of actually doing something at LeBretonFlats, people want to keep up the momentum.

But there are limited options for what's next, and they are either fraught, depressing or possibly downright wrong.

Options mostly unappealing

Moving forward with RendezVous LeBreton's plans which includea downtown NHLarena, thousands of residential units,retail and offices, community centres and other public spaces seems highly improbablewith thismassive legal dispute.

And there's no going back to the second-place bidder in the competition to redevelop LeBreton.

After its board of directors authorized the NCC to enter into formal negotiations with RendezVous LeBretonlast January, it effectively ended the competition.

Theprocess does not allow the NCC to return to runner-upDevcore Canderel DLS Group.

Doing nothing is a real, but exceptionally depressing option.

Changing partners fraught

Despite the public spat, neither the Senators nor Trinity have officially withdrawn from the bidding.

The NCC has said that both parties have "many options" within the structure of theprocurement process.

But because the rules of engagement are not public, it's impossible to know what those options are and how much RendezVous LeBretoncan change before being disqualified.

Just because we want to keep the process going, it doesn't mean we shouldthrowtogether a bit of the old plan and maybe something new.

We might get shovels in the ground sooner, but what sort of place will be we building for the city?

That may be what was on Ottawa Centre MPCatherine McKenna's mind when she spoke to reportersin the House of Commons foyerWednesday.

"This isan incredible piece of land in downtown Ottawa,"said McKenna, whose riding includesLeBretonFlats.

"We need to be looking at how we move forward in a positive way, but ensure we get itright for the next 100 years."

Starting over but not from scratch

The only reasonable thing to do at this point would be to start the request for proposalprocess over.

It's a dispiriting idea for many, but it's hard to see another ethical option.

We won't need to start from scratch.

As the NCC was at pains to point out last week, it has had four teams working on this project for years.

According the Kristmanson, the NCCnow has a "profound understanding of the site that didn't exist three years ago."

Among other things, the contamination study and plan for remediation is complete.

There's an understanding of where city infrastructure has to goand a light rail system with two LeBreton stations will be running through the site shortly.

Process needs to start withhockey

One thing a new process would need to address head-on is the newarena.

A new home for the Senators was a signature part of the project, the element people were most excited about.

The lawsuit allegesthe NCC approached the Senators to gauge their interest in bidding for LeBreton, whichthe NCC saidit has no comment about.

Whether that move would be appropriate is a question for another day.

But the question we do need to ask now is whether we want an arena downtown.

If we do,how would that work?

Set aside land until the NCCis one day able to make a deal with the local team?

Or should we move on to look for something completely different?

It may be a contentious question, but it is also an honest place to start over again.