Feedback on Lansdowne Park from the Citizens of Ottawa
Date:
2010-06-28 17:12:08
From:
Subject:
Re: Lansdowne Park - Let's Get It Right!
Aside from concerns about the mis-management of Landsdowne park I have concerns regarding the arts & heritage aspects.
First, the city has a Percent for Art policy (since 1985) that states that all capital projects over $2 million provide one per cent of their budgets for permanent artwork, art installations, sculptures, and so forth. This provides long-term work for artists in this city. The LLP has ignored this policy. It is critical that this policy be implemented.
Second, the province has designated the Aberdeen Pavilion and the Horticultural Building as Heritage Structures. There are provincial guidelines concerning sightlines to these structures, land use, building conservation, and so forth. The LLP plans to build high commercial retail structures around the Aberdeen Pavilion. This may damage the foundations of the Pavilion and will destroy the sightlines to this one-of-a-kind-in-the-world structure. In other words, you would have to be a bird to see it! The LLP also plans to remove the Horticultural Building to build a parking lot. If the building is moved, it will likely fall apart.
The arts, heritage and cultural landscape of a city is what makes a city unique and makes the difference between a great city and an ordinary town. I think the capital of our nation deserves to be first rate.
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First, the city has a Percent for Art policy (since 1985) that states that all capital projects over $2 million provide one per cent of their budgets for permanent artwork, art installations, sculptures, and so forth. This provides long-term work for artists in this city. The LLP has ignored this policy. It is critical that this policy be implemented.
Second, the province has designated the Aberdeen Pavilion and the Horticultural Building as Heritage Structures. There are provincial guidelines concerning sightlines to these structures, land use, building conservation, and so forth. The LLP plans to build high commercial retail structures around the Aberdeen Pavilion. This may damage the foundations of the Pavilion and will destroy the sightlines to this one-of-a-kind-in-the-world structure. In other words, you would have to be a bird to see it! The LLP also plans to remove the Horticultural Building to build a parking lot. If the building is moved, it will likely fall apart.
The arts, heritage and cultural landscape of a city is what makes a city unique and makes the difference between a great city and an ordinary town. I think the capital of our nation deserves to be first rate.
Tweet this!