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“We will look to the private sector to bring to bear all of its creativity and innovation to make this a new landmark in the capital.”

The new building could be a museum or other type of public institution, he said, “with hopefully a national reach.

“This is where we’re looking to the creativity of the private sector. It’s not going to be a government-led or driven process. We’ll really be looking to the market and to the creative minds out there to see what they can come up with.”

Kristmanson cited the “evolution” of the surrounding area — particularly Windmill Development’s plans for the former Domtar lands and Chaudiere Island — as one key reason for a major new building on LeBreton.

“With the Windmill development bringing in about three million square feet, mostly residential, to the north of the site, it makes a lot of sense to bring in some major attraction or institution to balance the War Museum,” he said.

Such a building would also create “an attractive place” for people arriving at the city’s future Pimisi light rail transit station at LeBreton Flats, he said. “It makes a lot of sense to do that rather than just let the whole thing go as a mixed-use development.”

Kristmanson, who called LeBreton Flats “immensely valuable,” said he’s had numerous meetings with private sector developers “to get their advice on how to do this — what was done right in the past, what was done wrong. So we’re going forward on that basis.”

Diane Holmes, the outgoing councillor for Somerset ward, which includes LeBreton Flats, said the most important thing the NCC should do with the LeBreton redevelopment is to break up the land into smaller parcels, each with its own architect and developer.