LeBreton Flats ‘dream has been shattered’ but Sens owner still looking long term

The owner of the Ottawa Senators and head of Capital Sports Management Inc. says he is determined to find another central location for a “world class hub.”

He released a statement on Wednesday, after the National Capital Commission decided it would not allow mediation to continue any longer between CSMI and Trinity Development Group — two key pieces in the RendezVous LeBreton group, which had won the bid to redevelop LeBreton Flats.

Eugene Melnyk wrote, “We are devastated that our dream has been shattered.”

He said he looked to mediation as the best option to resolve issues between his group, Trinity and the City of Ottawa, but it was unsuccessful because of “unfortunate actions of partners who were unwilling to address the concerns.”

“However, we will not let our vision die or allow our enthusiasm to be diminished by this ill-fated experience,” Melnyk added.

The CSMI boss said his group is “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.”

Meanwhile, Executive Chairman of Trinity Development Group Inc. John Ruddy said, “While I am disappointed the mediation concluded without success, I would urge the National Capital Commission to move forward on the redevelopment of LeBreton Flats – regardless of whether Trinity Group plays a role or not – given the importance of this redevelopment to our community.”

Here is the full statement from Melnyk on the LeBreton Flats saga:

“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.”