RendezVous LeBreton is Officially Dead, Again
The parties involved were unable to reach a deal through mediation
By Brad Timmins@Sammich_BLT Updated Feb 27, 2019, 3:50pm EST
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We weren't expecting anything on this until tomorrow, but this morning the NCC announced that the mediation had failed and a new process for the redevelopment - whatever that ends up being - will be put together in the next few days.
#LeBreton update: We've been advised by the mediator Mr. Warren Winkler that the parties have been unable to reach a settlement. Our Board will hold a teleconference on Feb. 28 to review this development. Another meeting will be held on March 7 to finalize a new process.
— National Capital Commission (@NCC_CCN) February 27, 2019
The failure of this last-ditch effort likely marks the final, official, definitely not coming back again end of the RendezVous LeBreton plan.
This also means that the $700M lawsuit by Capital Sports Management and the $1B counter-claim by Trinity will likely proceed. While whatever new process the NCC puts in place may not explicitly exclude either the Melnyk or Ruddy camps, or the inclusion of an arena, it is difficult to see either group participating with that potential legal liability hanging over their heads. Stranger things have happened though.
We'll update this piece if any new details on how the mediation went and the potential fallout from this result become public.
Eugene Melnyk has released a brief statement to the media in response to this news (via TSN):
On behalf of Capital Sports Management Inc. (CSMI) and the Ottawa Senators, I want to thank former Ontario Supreme Court Justice Warren Winkler for his leadership in attempting to mediate the impasse at LeBreton Flats. We appreciate the tenacity, creativity, diplomacy, and patience he demonstrated throughout this confidential process.
Since 2014, CSMI and the Ottawa Senators have championed the development of a state-of-the-art downtown sports and entertainment complex for the city's loyal sports fans and more importantly, as a turning point in the revitalization of our National Capital Region.
To that end, we invested thousands of hours of our employee time into the design, planning and development of a world-class vision. Unfortunately, that dream was delayed and sidelined by the unfortunate actions of partners who were unwilling to address the concerns we proactively and transparently raised to the National Capital Commission, the Mayor, the City of Ottawa and the public about the impact of adjacent developments, and economic modelling flaws on the viability of RendezVous LeBreton.We looked to mediation as our best opportunity to address and resolve these concerns. We participated in the process to the very end.
We are devastated that our dream has been shattered. However, we will not let our vision die or allow our enthusiasm to be diminished by this ill-fated experience. More than ever, we are determined and committed to explore alternative approaches in central locations that could accommodate a world-class hub. We are here for the long term and want a world class venue where Ottawans will live, work, play and enjoy the best the city has to offer. The people of Ottawa deserve this.
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