Let me be clear about this: I despise having to write about Eugene Melnyk and anything to do with the LeBreton Flats development, especially because there are a lot of small details that I am unaware of that I otherwise would be knowledgeable about if it related to actual hockey. But I feel weird not having some sort of article about it, and Melnyk is doing his best job to force me to write about things other than the on-ice product of the Ottawa Senators.
There have been a lot of back and forths between Trinity and Melnyk over the past two days, with the headliner being that Trinity is counter-suing Melnyk for $1B (compared to the $700M suit that is going the other way). What is most damning towards Melnyk is this quote from CTV:
According to the countersuit, "CSMI's and Melnyk's true aim is to have the City of Ottawa or Trinity fund and build the $500 million event centre for the Ottawa Senators hockey team, with the Senators getting 30 years' free rent. CSMI also wants the valuable naming rights and an unreasonable degree of control over the Lebreton project."Trinity's counterclaim also alleges Melnyk is unable to pay his bills to get the Lebreton plan going. According to court documents filed Tuesday, "CSMI has neglected or evaded its financial obligations... It is fair to infer that CSMI is not financially sound."
So what Trinity is saying is that Melnyk is broke and that he essentially wants a free rink...That is the least surprising revelation from the LeBreton saga, as we've known for years that Melnyk's financial situation is "in the dumpster" as he would say. There is just no way that a group backed solely by Melnyk is going to have a rink at LeBreton get built, but John Ruddy still thinks a rink there could happen:
"Let me be clear, I am committed to moving this project forward. The vision we've brought forward is the right one. I will work with the NCC, the City of Ottawa, and the community at large to advance solutions that will make this project a reality, and avoid losing these important lands for another generation."
The Senators-backed group CSMI quickly responded to the suit on Tuesday, and essentially gave a peace offering, but Trinity was not willing to play nice:
The Ottawa Senators group has responded to the $1 B counter lawsuit from Trinity Developments.
— Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) December 18, 2018
They are proposing a solution where the downtown arena is built on time and under the current framework.
Here is the official response: pic.twitter.com/BQwL5i7W6K
And Trinity’s response to the Sens proposal pretty much kills the idea of a joint arena venture. pic.twitter.com/GsocvOEWP7
— Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) December 18, 2018
I don't blame them for responding to CSMI in such a way, because nothing really did change with that latest proposal. It's difficult to keep track of all the different people and groups involved in these negotiations, as well as the implications for every new development, but the main takeaway should be this: that Melnyk has botched the deal for the arena by implying that he would have the money two years ago even though he never did.
I think everyone involved in this situation is extremely frustrated because LeBreton has been unused land for years, and there have been way too many setbacks for developing it. Putting a rink there (along with other things such as apartments and parks) makes perfect sense, and strangely I am still optimistic about that happening one day. But that will not happen with Melnyk as the owner because the Trinity group has essentially said to the public that he does not have enough money.
Oh the joys of having to get invested in local politics...