Happy New Year,

For Friends of Lansdowne, the first six months of 2011 are bound to be busy. If we are to succeed in our goal of having a fair, open and transparent process for revitalizing Lansdowne Park, then we need to stop the current Lansdowne Partnership Plan before June 2011 when the deal is due to be finalized.

Reasons for Optimism

We are optimistic about the chances of stopping this scheme so that a legitimate process can go forward:

• the legal challenge is strong and we achieved an early victory when the court denied OSEG full party status and refused its goal of seeking cost awards against individuals
• there are 14 appeals of the proposed zoning to the Ontario Municipal Board -- if the change in zoning is not approved, the project cannot proceed
• the Ontario Heritage Trust will need to approve the development plans, and it is hard to see how it could possibly do so given its mandate of heritage preservation
• emerging issues related to site contamination stand to trigger new environmental reviews, questions and costs
• Mayor Watson's commitment to keep tax increases to 2.5% will make it difficult for the City to increase taxpayers burden with a $172 Million debenture for Lansdowne at the same time it is funding transit.

Fundraising Progress

We have now raised $70,000 of our $100,000 fundraising goal. More than 350 different people have donated an average of $200 each. If just 150 more people do the same--we'll attain our goal. Donate online or simply send a cheque to Friends of Lansdowne c/o Ted Lupinski CA , 137 Second Ave, Suite 2, Ottawa, K1S 2H4.

Upcoming Events

Two fun events are in store to raise funds for the Lansdowne Legal Challenge:

Saturday January 29 Havana Night at the Old Fire Hall

8 pm Cuban Music, Snacks and Mojitos

Organized by the Old Ottawa South Community Association

$35. Tickets and Info wwww.oldottawasouth.ca

Saturday, February 5 The Lansdowne Follies at the Mayfair Theatre

4 pm With Ian Tamblyn, Lynn Miles, Elizabeth Hay, Maude Barlow and
our lawyer, Steven Shrybman

Organized by Friends of Lansdowne

$30. Tickets: Compact Music, Ottawa Folklore Centre and the Mayfair.

www.letsgetitright.ca

Recent Developments

• On December 31, Ottawa newspapers ran articles about an an affidavit by an OSEG lawyer on the Friends of Lansdowne legal case. Leaving aside the issue of one-sided coverage, there is much of interest in the affidavit. Revelations include the fact that the City becomes an equal partner in the football and hockey teams and confirmation that none of the City's $163 Million debt will be repaid by commercial revenues from the development. It's taxpayers who will foot the bill. Read more here.
• Heritage Ottawa has appealed the City of Ottawa's decision to rescind the heritage designation of the Horticulture Building to the provincial Conservation Review Board. The last date for appeals is January 4th.
• The Glebe Community Association has written to the Minister of the Environment raising questions and concerns about site contamination at Lansdowne. See the letter here. 

What's Ahead

• The legal challenge will be generating lots of activity. Right now, our lawyers are pouring through 6 boxes of evidence from the City. They are also waiting for the City to release detailed financial documents. Expect an update and response to the City and OSEG materials in mid-January.
• City budget consultations are likely to take place later in January. When the budget documents come out, it will be important to review them, ask questions and speak out to Councillors about the cost to taxpayers. Stay tuned.

What Can You Do?

• Support our fundraising. If you can help with postering or join our fundraising committee, contact us at friendsoflansdowne@gmail.com.
• Participate in our events: the Lansdowne Follies (Feb. 5) and Havana Night (January 29).
• Communicate. We continue to experience one-sided coverage from the mainstream media. So we count on you to write, blog, post, twitter, talk, and call in to media, councillors, your MPP, MP and your own networks of people about Lansdowne. Spread the word about how the City's flawed process for redeveloping Lansdowne Park has resulted in a bad deal for taxpayers; it's not too late (and it's not costly) to stop this plan now and go back to an open, fair and transparent process to revitalize this important site for the public good.

We will continue to send out regular email notices but also urge you to visit our website for the latest news.

www.letsgetitright.ca

friendsoflansdowne@gmail.com