2 visions for LeBreton Flats unveiled

The competing visions for LeBreton Flatsare now on full public display, with two teams jostling to pour billions into thedowntown parcel of land to draw people there with ambitious plans forlandmark attractions.

• PHOTOS | What LeBreton Flats would look like if Ottawa Senators' bid is chosen
• PHOTOS | What LeBreton Flats would look like if the DCDLS bid is chosen
• Ottawa Senators 'not for sale at any price,' Eugene Melnyk insists as rivals come courting

DevelopersDevcoreCanderelDLSGroup the group backed by Quebec-based billionaires AndrDesmarais and Guy Lalibertasked people to imagine a linear park the length of the development, linking a multimedia museum, Ripley's aquarium,planetarium, a skydiving wind tunnel and, eventually, an NHL arena for theOttawa Senators.

RendezVous LeBreton, the group backed byOttawa Senators' owner Eugene Melnyk, sees five distinct neighbourhoods built around a major events centre, which proponents say could hold 180 events a year, far more than the 40-50 NHL hockey games that would take place there.

Both include an innovation pavilion, linear plazas,public squares, and, of course, an NHL-calibre arena.

At a media preview to the public consultations taking place Tuesday at the Canadian War Museum, the two teams made theirbest pitch for why the National Capital Commission should choose their plan for transforming the prime land from a bulldozed wasteland to a national or international attraction, animated year-round.

TheDevcoreCanderelDLSbid: "Canadensis"

Daniel Peritz pitches DCDLS LeBreton Flats bid

9 years ago

Duration 3:53

The VP of Canderel discusses goals of his team's bid and how the Ottawa Senators are involved.

A linear park called "Canadensis,"featuring plants from the variouseco-systemsacross Canada, would bethe spine of the bid backed by developersDevcore,Canderel, Quebec scionAndrDesmarais,Cirque de Soleil founderGuy Lalibert, co-founder of JDS UniphaseWilliam Sinclair and the Mierins family.

Ottawa architect Ritchard Brisbin described it asa"magical botanical thread",a "mash-up" of theTuileries Gardenin Paris,Highline Park in New York City and Millenium Park in Chicago.

That bid includes several public plazas, including one with a bandshell and another day-and-night space that could hold Winterlude or National Aboriginal Day, called "Canada Square".

Various new attractions for the capital would be built, including a Canadian Communication Centre, planetarium, skydiving wind tunnel, SPINskatepark, automotive museum and Ripley's aquarium.

During the first phase, 1,100residential units would be built, and 2,500 overall, including a seniors' enclave and student residences. The team also sees a public elementary school and retail area anchored by Farm Boy.

The trick was to find abalance between city building and nation building, said Daniel Peritz, a vice-president of Canderel, adding his group's intention would be tobuy the land from the NCC.

A NHL-calibre arena fits into the third phase, and the group re-iterated several times that the Ottawa Senators should be downtown.

"We did imagine all of these," said architectBrisbin."We imagined them all at LeBreton."

• Listen here forDaniel Peritz'spitch for theDCDLS bid.

RendezVousLeBretonbid: "illumiNATION"

Eugene Melnyk says Lebreton Flats would increase Sens budget

9 years ago

Duration 3:47

The Ottawa Senators owner refuses to sell the team as he discusses the LeBreton Flats bid.

The bid called "Illumination LeBreton" would see five distinct neighbourhoods Pimisi, Bayview, Quartier LeBreton, Asticou, and Aqueduct centred around a major events centre.

• Ottawa Senators not for sale 'at any price,' Melnykinsists

The team describedbringingnew focus back to the old aqueduct, by lining it with pedestrian walkways, andcreate another axislined with public art.

The plan would seelight rail run under a new east-west road called Canada Drive, all connecting a NationsPlaza andLeBretonSquare,the heart of theredeveloped lands, beside the events centre.

Place de laGarewould connect the waterfront toBayviewStation. The site would also feature a National Abilities Centre, a Canada House for members of the military and a Preston Canopy featuring projections and a water show.

Of course, the team sees a new home for the Ottawa Senators.

"The redevelopment ofLeBretonFlats is about much more than hockey," said the team's presidentCyrilLeeder.

While the bid is ledby SenatorsSports and Entertainment andTrinity Developments, the joint venture has more than 30 other partners, including developers Windmill, Brigil and Mattamy Homes, the Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation andarchitect Barry Hobin.

• Listen here for Eugene Melnyk's pitch for the RendezVous LeBreton Group bid.

Public consultations again Wednesday

"We've arrived at a defining moment in theLeBretonFlats story,"said MarkKristmanson,CEO of the National Capital Commission."A bravo is deserved for both teams."

The NCC is holding public consultations attheCanadianWar Museum Jan. 26 and 27, with online feedback open until February 8.

An evaluation committee is torecommend one of the plans to the NCC's board in March2016.

The NCC doesn't intend to announce the winner to the public for nearly a full year after that, in early 2017, after it has negotiated with the successful bidderand received federal approvals.