The details of a redesign for the stadium and a new commercial complex at Lansdowne Park were revealed Thursday afternoon.
It includes: residential and commercial use, a movie theatre, stadium, shopping plaza, and underground parking.
A group of area-residents have greatly opposed the plans to redevelop Lansdowne so far; but the people behind the proposal standby the idea and say redevelopment is long overdue.
"We've been talking about the future of Lansdowne Park since the mid-90s," said Roger Greenberg of Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group. "We decided to submit an unsolicited proposal and in our view the City of Ottawa could have said ‘nice idea guys but we're not interested'."
Greenberg said instead the City said this is something to talk about.
"The issue becomes what is good use of public land," said Michael Tiger.
Tiger belongs to the group called Friends of Lansdowne Park. The group says they are not closed to the idea of redevelopment but want to make sure it is being redeveloped into something Ottawa residents can be proud of.
"Should public land be given to four developers at no cost free over 30 years to build a shopping complex?" Tiger asked on CTV News at Noon.
The group believes it should not.
Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien, however, praised the design before its unveiling.
"They made it feel like some of those beautiful passageways in the (Byward) market," said O'Brien. "It's going to be outstanding."
Greenberg said groundbreaking at Lansdowne could happen by the end of 2010 if council approves the plan and it overcomes court appeals and the Ontario Municipal Board.
