People living near LeBreton Flats put plenty of questions about the future of their neighbourhood to officials from the National Capital Commission Thursday night.

The NCC is looking for someone to buy and develop the southeast corner of the flats.

Empty for decades, LeBreton Flats is a clean slate, and the NCC is eager to start filling it in. The War Museum is being constructed, the roads through the flats are getting changed, and the site is in the process of being decontaminated.

The NCC envisions stacked townhouses and apartment buildings ranging from four to 12 storeys, 2,500 square metres of retail space, wide sidewalks, and plenty of courtyards and green spaces.

According to NCC plans, Phase 1 would contain 800 units in all, a quarter of which must be reserved for affordable housing.

But there's no deadline for developers to complete the low-rent units, which is something that needs to change, according to Bernie Burns of Ottawa Community Housing.

The NCC is putting out the call for proposals next week, which would include offers to buy the 4.4 hectare site.

The decision about who will develop the parcel of land will be taken by an advisory committee made up of appointees from across the country, much like the NCC's board of directors.

That didn't sit well with some at the meeting, including Albert Street resident Tom Trottier.

The NCC said that the general public will get a chance to view developers' proposals for Phase 1 before a final selection is made later this year.