People to watch 2000: Marcel Beaudry, NCC BY KATE CHAPPELL ottawa business journal

Marcel Beaudry, the head of the National Capital Commission, is aware of the controversy and scrutiny that surrounds his organization's every move, but he doesn't care.

"Of course you may get the odd person criticizing, but that's the reality," Beaudry says from his 12th-floor office on Elgin Street overlooking Confederation Square. "We can't expect to get 100 per cent support for what we're trying to achieve."

This year is important for Beaudry and the NCC because it marks the beginning and completion of some key NCC projects that will drastically affect Ottawa's downtown core.

The rehabilitation of Confederation Square will be finished this year and the future of several high-profile sites is under consideration. Of course, the process won't be without heated debate, but Beaudry is prepared. The NCC has long been targeted as being a cash-rich, federal body that can act with impunity thanks to its closed-door policy.

But Beaudry says the crown corporation's consultation process is one of the best.

"There's very few organizations out there that consult publicly as much as the NCC does. We do our job and it's not always recognized by the media We're really convinced that our consultation process is really strong."

Beaudry says the NCC's plans for the downtown core are about to kick into high gear and that the results will begin to come to fruition in as little as 12 years.

"We're trying to look into the next 50 years. We've started this vision (for the downtown core) in 1998. The Greber plan went back 50 years and a lot of different things have been implemented. We felt it was now the time, with all the construction in Ottawa and Hull, it was time for the national capital vision."

The main part of this vision (and the most controversial) is the revitalization of Sparks Street and Metcalfe Street. The NCC originally had four options in mind; one of those options included the widening of Metcalfe Street down to the Museum of Science and Nature. But public outcry forced the NCC to shelve that option. The NCC says it's now focussing on making Sparks Street a vibrant attraction and a complement to Parliament Hill.

The Treasury Board has granted the NCC $40 million over two years for this project. One building at 100 Sparks St. has already been purchased for $9.2 million. The NCC is also planning to put in a mix of residences, office spaces and more parking spaces. The possibility of opening up the area to vehicular traffic is also proposed.

Beaudry refutes the claim the NCC shouldn't be involved in the revitalization process.

"Why are we getting involved? Well, because the municipality didn't get involved," he says. "They've had 35 years and we can't exactly say that they were successful. We feel that it's a bit of a shame to see the mall in the state it is now. Merchants have been complaining for years and years and years. They've called on the NCC to get involved," Beaudry says.

He maintains the consultation process for the future of the mall will remain transparent.

"Once we have a more complete idea of how this will develop, we're going to be out there again consulting the people that are directly concerned with it."

Louis Faction, chair of the Sparks Street Mall Management Board's vision committee, says he is confident the NCC will work in conjunction with all parties.

"The key word is co-operative and another key word would be transparent," Faction says. "I don't think the NCC has too much power. What you would say is that they have power, but they have a mandate to make the capital a Canadian attraction. The public perception of the NCC is inaccurate."

The NCC's other major projects include the redevelopment of LeBreton Flats, a possible purchase of Shadier Island and the land now occupied by Scott's paper mill, more acquisitions of Greenbelt space, the Daly site, redevelopment of the former U.S. embassy, an exhibition at Rideau Falls, the Canada Sports Hall of Fame, an extension of Bank Street to the Ottawa River and an extension of Confederation Boulevard to Gatineau Park.

Although all of these projects are still just a glint in Beaudry's eye, he says that in five years Sparks Street will be a vibrant and active area, and the development of LeBreton Flats will be underway. Beaudry's term ends in 2006.

LeBreton Flats, a 110-acre parcel of land just west of the Parliament Buildings, is now owned by the NCC after years of haggling with the City of Ottawa. It is zoned for a mix of institutional, residential and commercial development.

David Chorney, vice-president of Colliers International's Ottawa office, says LeBreton Flats will be a prime piece of real estate once it's cleaned up.

"(Developers) will fall all over themselves to get their hands on that property. It's a totally blank piece of paper."

Chorney, however, is skeptical of the NCC's overall approach.

"I have to say, I think the NCC, and the government as their master, could benefit from taking a step back. They seem to have gone through many incarnations of different plans (for the downtown core), but they bounce around all the time. You have to wonder how much pre-thought has gone into this."

Chorney says the NCC's reputation could probably benefit from a more public forum when decisions are made. But he praises Beaudry's ability to get the job done.

"I think he's a very pragmatic and get-it-done personality. That's a very positive thing."