Lansdowne Park in central Ottawa sits on a parcel of land bordered by Bank Street and the picturesque Rideau Canal. The 40-acre exhibition, sports and entertainment complex has undergone a substantial revitalization that has brought new homes and retail to the site, now acting as a lesson in urban renewal and heritage preservation. 

Aberdeen Pavilion, image courtesy of the City of Ottawa

In 1847, the government of the Province of Canada transferred the land that is now Lansdowne Park to Ottawa, then named Bytown. An annual fair, the Central Canada Exhibition, began at the site in 1888 and continued until 2010. With the formation of the Central Canada Exhibition Association, 1888 saw several improvements to the land, including a new Grandstand and Horticulture Hall. Affectionately called the 'Cattle Castle,' due to its prominence as a host of agricultural displays, the Aberdeen Pavilion was constructed in 1898.

Nearly a century later, the massive Victorian exhibition hall was threatened with demolition in 1991, despite being designated a National Historic Site eight years earlier. A movement to save the building was successful and renovations in 1994 restored the structure to its former glory. There had been little attention paid to the rest of the property though, which had mostly become paved over with parking lots. 

Aerial overview of Lansdowne Park, image retrieved from Google Maps

Another of the park's facilities, Frank Clair Stadium had been a staple of the area since its construction in 1908. Mostly accommodating football events, cracks found in the concrete eight years ago necessitated the demolition of a section in the south stands. It also gave the City of Ottawa a reason to review the current uses of Lansdowne Park. When the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) was awarded a Canadian Football League (CFL) franchise in 2008, they partnered with the City in developing a proposal to revitalize the entire site with a rebuilt stadium alongside residential and commercial uses. OSEG was charged with developing the neighbouring land around the stadium and Bank Street, with a design competition being held for an urban park along the south end of the area. 

The Rideau, one of two condo towers at Lansdowne Park, image by Marcus Mitanis

Minto Group has since constructed two condominium buildings dubbed Minto at Lansdowne. The Barry J. Hobin & Associates Architects-designed towers stand 20 and 13 storeys tall and include ground floor retail to animate a previously barren section of Bank Street. Various retailers also now exist in the centre of Lansdowne Park, including a Cineplex movie theatre, Jack Astor's restaurant and Goodlife Fitness. A block of townhomes hug the precinct's north side and blend in with existing houses on Holmwood Avenue, steps away from a high school which relocated to the now rejuvenated district. The Canadian Internet Registration Authority has been secured as a tenant to occupy some of Lansdowne Park's new office space. All of this totals 360,000 square feet of commercial space and 280 residential units. 

Vibe, a new condominium at Bank and Holmwood, image retrieved from Google Street View

The reconfigured stadium, a 24,000-seat sports complex now called the TD Place Stadium, hosts the Ottawa Redblacks CFL team. The neighbouring TD Place Arena, meanwhile, which hosts the Ontario Hockey League's Ottawa 67's, underwent renovations to replace the seating, ceiling, signage and scoreboard. The Aberdeen Pavilion will continue to host community and special events while a farmer's market occupies a new courtyard just north of the structure. The Horticulture Building has been reserved for similar uses. 

Retail lining Bank Street, image retrieved from Google Street View

The revitalized Lansdowne Park contains a number of recreational and green spaces. Convertible courts host both basketball and hockey, the Great Lawn provides an open space with a 17,000-person capacity and a reflecting pool can be enjoyed at the Water Plaza. 

Aberdeen Square will host a farmer's market, image courtesy of the City of Ottawa

The grand opening of Lansdowne Park was held this past June. The massive redevelopment project is a testament to what visionary cities can do with aging infrastructure and property. With construction mostly complete, there are hopes the Central Canada Exhibition will return to Lansdowne Park following its five-year hiatus. If not, the rejuvenation still gives residents a reason to explore the park and provides a lesson for outsiders who may be inspired by Ottawa's model of mixed-use development. 

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