Planting one blade of grass in the acres of asphalt at Lansdowne would constitute greening (and an improvement in my mind) but it is not certain how green Lansdowne will become. Nor is it clear who will get the green (i.e. the money) for any greening initiative.
In today's Citizen, Kate Jaimet writes under the title "Green theme for Lansdowne" that there is controversy over the plans for the proposed "front lawn". This is described by Graham Bird, a consultant to the City, who has emerged as one of the most enthusiastic salesmen for the proposal, as an open grassy area only used for parking on rare occasions .
People who are less enamoured of the proposal question whether the "front lawn" can be used for much other than parking.
One of our problems is that it is not certain what is actually proposed for the "front lawn". There has been talk of concrete blocks with small holes through which grass could grow. Another possibility cited in the article is a system of plastic rings below the surface of the soil giving a more lawn-like appearance.
Until we understand what exactly the proponents have in mind, and until they can point to an installation in Ottawa we can visit, it is hard to know what the "front lawn" will be like.
But in today's article there was one aspect which I found curious. In discussing the possible use of the "front lawn" for concerts, festival activities etc. the article says "The city and the NCC would decide on the programming while the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group would manage the events for a fee. The city would reap any profits and absorb any losses from the events."
I am not sure that this passage gives a correct interpretation of the business arrangement as proposed. If an event, the Tulip Festival for example, wants to use the front lawn, it would contract with OSEG to use the space and pay a rental fee. That fee would go to OSEG. Only after OSEG has covered all its costs, including any administrative charges and profit, would any funds be transferred to the mysterious "closed system" and then funds would be run through the "waterfall". Only after payments are made to the lifecycle reserve fund, to OSEG as return on its investment, and to OSEG to pay off its investment, would the City receive anything. At least that is my understanding.
I am in favour of greening in the sense of removing some of the acres of empty asphalt but I think we need to know what exactly is proposed. Moreover we need to know how the money is moving.
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I attended the public meeting at Lansdowne Park and raised some questions with the personnel at the individual panels. I had thought they were city staff, but have now learned that is not necessarily so as the developer’s consultants had City of Ottawa name tags as well. In any case, of the questions I raised there were six that I was told only person who could answer. That one person was Mr. Kirkpatrick. I tried to raise my questions with him, but there was a tight circle around him, including some of his staff, keen to ask him questions.
ReplyDeleteThe evening came to a conclusion and I was unable to direct my questions. In leaving the meeting area and on my way to Bank Street I came upon a gathering of five individuals who were laughing and commenting on the evening’s event. The remarks I heard include: “You are a media hound” – followed by a round of laughter! “You were having the time of your life” – more laughter. l “I could not answer a single question with you there. I might just as well stayed home” – more laughter. And then the comment from the center of attention as Mr. Kirkpatrick was getting into his car, “Yes, it was fun tonight”.
I suspect that Mr. Kirkpatrick, in that tight little circle of his staff, formed his opinion on the evening’s happenings on the good time he was having. With his wisdom and insights into the process that is unfolding he is in an advantageous position to participate in the charade of the consultation process. If he is firmly of the opinion that his consultation process is achieving its objectives, then why not laugh and have a good time.
If the process does not achieve the objective he has in mind, then I suggest it is time to call into question his ability to manage the affairs of the city. Do we need further testimony of his talent: sewage in the Ottawa River; a Transit Plan that appears destined for failure; planning and development programs that demonstrate outrageous incompetence. Yet the real issue has to be one on accountability and the simple fact is that this Council appears unable to develop a framework in which that relationship has a hope of succeeding.
In conclusion, perhaps it is not a matter of a conspiracy theory as some observors have commented. Perhaps it is a process that has been flawed from the outset because it has not been open and transparent and because there is no accountability.