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Your reaction: Senators bid top choice to redevelop LeBreton Flats

The news that a bid backed by the Ottawa Senators has been selected to negotiate to redevelop LeBreton Flats sparked a range of reaction in Ottawa, as the prospect of the team moving downtown became closer to reality.

Victory for RendezVous LeBreton draws praise and condemnation

CBC News ·
Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk said he was excited to start building a new arena downtown. But the process to redeveloping LeBreton Flats has just begun. (Chloe Fedio/CBC)

The news that a bid backed by the Ottawa Senators had been selected to negotiate to redevelop LeBreton Flats sparked a range of reaction in Ottawa, as the prospect of the team moving downtown became closer to reality.

The National Capital Commission board voted Thursday to move ahead with negotiations with the Sens-backed RendezVous LeBreton Group after five-member selection committee announced its proposal — which includes five distinct neighbourhoods centred around a major events centre — was the preferred of two final bids.

Before delivering the news, the National Capital Commission went through both the RendezVous and Devcore Canderel DLS Group bids, explaining the strengths and weaknesses of each proposal.

As the NCC explained each bid in detail, some people on social media, including city councillor Tim Tierney, joked about the excruciating pace.

But eventually, the Senators-backed bid was chosen.

Here's how the key players on the two bids responded.

Community activists also reacted, with Eric Darwin saying he liked the RendezVous LeBreton bid's focus on neighbourhoods.

A number of local politicians, including some like Mayor Jim Watson who had not indicated a preference beforehand, said they were happy with the result.

Naturally, Sens fans were pleased, while others were concerned about what it would mean for the downtown.

And finally, some people wondered what would become of the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata.

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