If you’ve been following the LeBreton Flats story from its early days, you’ll know that it has been full of twists and turns. Both dizzying highs and punishing lows.
In fact, the first time I wrote about the possibility here on SensChirp was a solid 10 years ago. That’s a decade, if you’re wondering. At the time, there were two groups bidding on the development rights, with the Sens-linked RendezVous LeBreton group winning the bid. In those early days, there hope was to have the rink built and open and hosting Sens hockey games by uh 2021 or 2022.
Needless to say, we’re going to fall just short of that timeline.
But when it comes to the ol’ LeBreton file, progress is unpredictable and well, gradual. Except today, we have what sounds like an actual step towards a rink at LeBreton Flats. Everyone still likes that idea, right?
In a Joint Statement, the National Capital Commission and Capital Sports Development Inc. (Go Sens Go) announced that they have signed an agreement of purchase and sale for land parcels totaling approximately 11 acres at LeBreton Flats.
From here, we move to next steps including zoning, design and approvals, and decontamination of the site, because as you’ll recall, the whole area is basically toxic wasteland.
Here’s friend of the show, Cyril Leeder, on what today’s announcement means.
“We are pleased to reach an agreement of purchase and sale with the NCC to take the next step in this process. There are still many more hurdles to clear and we look forward to working with the NCC and other stakeholders to achieve our shared vision of creating an event centre at LeBreton Flats that can be enjoyed by our Ottawa-Gatineau community.”
You can read the official statement here.
