All three companies deemed eligible to develop the Daly site have submitted their proposals to the National Capital

Commission in time for last Thursday's deadline, setting the stage for a final decision on the controversial parcel of

downtown real estate.

The NCC picked three developers from a list of seven in January. Ashton Gate Development, Claridge Homes and

Industrielle Alliance were chosen to submit final detailed proposals.

Located at Sussex Drive and Rideau Street, the Daly site is one of the last prime undeveloped pieces of land in Ottawa's

downtown core. The site has been vacant since the Daly Building, a government office building, was torn down in 1991.

The other bidders could not be reached, but Michel Ahern of Ahern Real Estate Inc., promoter for the Industrielle Alliance

proposal, says his group is proposing a combination of hotel and retail space for the Daly site.

Their proposal calls for a nine-storey building with underground parking, consisting of three levels of retail space and a

six-storey hotel. Ahern says the group would bring several new destination retailers to Ottawa. All of the retailers would

have street access, and an atrium and escalators in the centre of the building would connect the retailers.

Ahern says the European-style hotel would be small but luxurious. The space outside the building facing Rideau Street

would be open with lots of room for people to gather, and the building itself would fit in with the surrounding architectural

style.

NCC spokeswoman Diane Dupuis said after evaluating the proposals, staff will make a recommendation to the NCC

board, which may announce the winning proposal after its meeting June 29. Dupuis said she hopes construction of the

development will be complete in about two years.