As construction begins on the Lansdowne 2.0 redevelopment, the head of the local BIA said area businesses should be largely unaffected and could even benefit from an influx of construction workers. The first phase of the project will focus on the construction of the event centre, which will accommodate up to 7,000 people for concerts […]
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As construction begins on the Lansdowne 2.0 redevelopment, the head of the local BIA said area businesses should be largely unaffected and could even benefit from an influx of construction workers.
The first phase of the project will focus on the construction of the event centre, which will accommodate up to 7,000 people for concerts and 6,600 for hockey games.
In a memo Friday, Tammy Rose, the city’s general manager of infrastructure and water services, said the first phase of construction on the new event centre will include “berm removal and environmental remediation, site servicing, modifications to TD Place to maintain operations during redevelopment, phase one of underground loading dock construction, event centre construction, accessible drop-off infrastructure, new berm construction, and Great Lawn landscaping and wayfinding.”
Preliminary work, beginning this week, will include the installation of fencing and site trailer as well as “exploratory works.”
Darrell Cox, executive director of the Glebe BIA, told OBJ Monday that the BIA is working closely with the city and the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group to mitigate disruptions.
“The one concern that the businesses have (is) just the amount of truck traffic (and) heavy equipment that’s going to be coming up and down Bank Street. But we just had a meeting with the city staff last week to talk about that, so there will be a plan in place,” Cox said, adding that he believes businesses in the Glebe will be largely unaffected by the construction.
If businesses do have any questions or concerns, Cox said the BIA should be their first point of contact, but that the city has also put together a Lansdowne renewal team.
Overall, Cox said the area’s businesses are feeling good about the project and looking forward to the end product.
“We’re just glad to be moving forward (with the project). It’s been a long time coming. There’s going to be some concern about disruption, but we’re hearing from members (and) a fair number of members (are in) support of the project.”
Cox said some businesses are even anticipating an increase in business due to an influx of construction workers.
“They’re looking to take advantage of the few hundred construction workers and tradespeople that are going to be on-site for this length of time, particularly with the fast-food restaurants in the area where they will have a few hundred more people every day, looking for a quick bite to eat.”
In a conversation with OBJ last week, OSEG president and CEO Mark Goudie said that the project was planned to happen in “manageable chunks” to allow access to the rest of the Lansdowne site and minimize impact on surrounding businesses.
“We’re a site that used to draw about 250,000 people a year before the redevelopment in 2014 and now we’re up to over four million visitors a year. It’s really important that all the good things that are happening at Lansdowne continue to happen at Lansdowne through this project.
“In phase one, everything is contained over near the (new) event centre. That leaves the rest, (about) 80 per cent, of the site to function normally,” Goudie said. “(In) phase two, the construction and the staging will all happen in the footprint of the current (arena). While construction will happen in that area, the Great Lawn will have been put back better than (when construction) started (and) the event centre will be open.”
He added that events will continue at Lansdowne and construction crews will work around event schedules, creating as little disruption as possible.
“The city has requirements in their contract with the general contractor as to site cleanliness on event days, what time they are able to operate, how the site needs to get cleaned up ahead of (events) and the city’s been working on paths for vehicles as well,” Goudie said.
As the first part of construction gets underway, there are currently no road closures or detours planned, according to the Engage Ottawa website.
The City of Ottawa stated in the memo Friday that it is “committed to keeping residents and businesses informed throughout the construction of Lansdowne 2.0. A construction communications campaign will commence in conjunction with the start of construction, including additional information and opportunities for the public to learn more about the project.”
The city is encouraging residents and businesses to sign up for its Lansdowne 2.0 newsletter to get regular updates on the project, and is planning a drop-in public information session.
On Nov. 7, city council approved the Lansdowne 2.0 redevelopment plan, which includes the construction of a new event centre, the demolition of the current TD Place Arena, the redevelopment of the north side stands at TD Place Stadium and the construction of two residential towers with a retail bay.
The event centre construction is set to wrap up by the fall of 2028, according to the city’s timeline. The construction on the new north side stands will begin in the fourth quarter of 2028 and is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2030. The last part of the project, the construction of the two residential towers, is set to start in 2031 and be complete in 2034.
