John Martin, who you probably have never heard of, is an Ottawan who is costing you, that's y o u, money.
Let me set the stage.
About 2 or 3 klicks south of Parliament Hill there is a fair grounds that was opened in the 1880's called Lansdowne Park. Lansdowne has a falling apart football stadium/eyesore, an ancient [1966]hockey rink and some pretty decrepit grounds.
Oh yeah, and no CFL team for the CFL stadium; two teams failed inside a decade or so. Most likely coz they were mismanaged [three words: Coach Joe Paopao] but the stadium didn't help either.
Anyhow this developer named Roger Greenberg, through a group called the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, is a bit of a local white knight and has offered to fix the place up with 300 000 000 . 00 of his deneros.
Sports teams rip off cities all the time, just check out Neil deMause's http://www.fieldofschemes.com/.
This is not one of those times.
This is a sweet deal.
Not good enough for the Lansdowne Park Conservancy and its co-founder John Martin.
As an aside, Lansdowne Park Conservancy? You want to conserve an eyesore, decaying eyesore, in the middle of the National Capital?
This nimby stick in the mud is the only motherf*cker holding the process off and the return of CFL football and first run movie theatres to the south side of downtown.
Stop already, you've made your point.
Mr. Martin wants a competition and has went to court. Lotsa times.
Your National Capital and Mr. Greenberg's group was approved thirteen months and one mayor ago. Shovels should be in the ground.
Please, find another windmill to tilt at and stop wasting our money Mr. Martin.
Go Rough Riders.
WFDS
Dear Dan,
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your article very much.
However, you couldn't be farther from the truth.
The difference in cost to the projects is half a billion dollars. The OSEG plan is -$300M to the taxpayer and ours +1$70M.
Some good information can be seen at www.lpc-cpl.ca. Check The Proposal.
The financial comparison between the OSEG plan and the Conservancy is shocking.
As for CFL they will play at a stadium built by anyone else, their contract with the CFL stipulates it.
All the best and thank you,
John E. Martin
For those of you not familiar with Canuckistan let me tell you when some woman puts their initial in their signature like John E. Martin just did that means they mean bidness!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment.
WFDS