Lansdowne Park legal challenge rejected

A legal challenge against the redevelopment of Lansdowne Parkthat could have quashed the project and the return ofthe Canadian FootballLeague toOttawa has been rejected.

An Ottawa judge has ruled against the group Friends of Lansdowne Park and in favour of the City of Ottawa and the developer, Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, or OSEG.

The decision releasedThursday afternoon follows a hearing held last month.

During that hearing, Friends of Lansdowne argued the city broke its own rules by sole-sourcing the $300-million project.

The groupsaid the deal between the City and OSEG needed to be scrapped because it was not transparent.

However, in his written decision, Judge Charles Hackland ruled the city was acting in good faith when it approved the deal and did not break its own rules.

Under the deal, OSEG will oversee renovations of Frank Clair Stadium, and build a mix of condominium and retail space in the rest of the park.

In a news release, the city said it is delighted by the decision.

Friends of Lansdownesaid itis disappointed andis considering an appeal.

The group said in a news release that the project still hasn't received necessary heritage, environmental and site plan approvals and that significant changes to the current plan might still be needed.

"We remain committed to working towards a revitalized Lansdowne Park that will benefit the public, not private interests," the group's statement said.