TTC puts second entrance to Donlands station exactly where it wanted to in the first place
Those with long memories for somewhat obscure controversies might remember a little kerfuffle ensued when the TTC planned to add a second entrance to the Donlands and Greenwood subway stations. What’s the problem? The TTC proposed to condemn several homes in the neighbourhoods around those stations and assimilate them into the new entrances, Borg-style. There was a community outcry, and, predictably, the TTC offered a round of public consultations. The result? Unfortunately for the locals around Donlands, not much has changed according to the Globe and Mail:
Despite months of discussions and a consultant’s study that pointed to several less-disruptive locations, TTC officials have settled on the same plan that prompted the outcry in the first place – to raze two homes on Strathmore Boulevard and partially expropriate another 10 properties to make way for the exit.
The $8-million project, to begin in 2013 and take about two years, is meant to improve emergency safety at Donlands Station, one of several single-exit subway stops slated for the measure.
“We looked at a whole range of options and all the issues that come with them to try and find a way to not have to take these two houses,” TTC spokesman Brad Ross said in an interview Sunday. “Unfortunately we were unable to come up with one because of various constructability issues, engineering issues and ultimately, cost.”
Okay, this looks bad—almost as if the TTC had never planned to take the public seriously in the first place. But we’re actually tempted to cut the TTC some slack for once because of the very similar story at Greenwood that turned out differently: the TTC worked with an engaged public, found a solution and went ahead and implemented it.
We vaguely remembered the story of Greenwood from the election (Rocco Rossi worked it into a debate once or five million times, we think) and confirmed it with Brad Ross via e-mail today. “We found an alternative, i.e. different home, that works and where the owner is prepared to negotiate with us. Always better than expropriation.” While the story of Donlands looks bad—and the results clearly don’t make anyone happy—it doesn’t look like the TTC wasn’t trying. The residents of Strathmore say they’ll take this all the way to the mayor’s office—and good for them—but sometimes you have to settle for the least-bad solution.
• Second Donlands subway stop exit done deal [Globe and Mail]
• TTC Slams Door on Donlands Area Community Input [DonlandsSecondExit.ca]
• TTC Will Move Forward With Controversial Donlands Subway Exit Plan [CityNews Toronto]
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/city/ttc-puts-second-entrance-to-donlands-station-exactly-where-it-wanted-to-in-the-first-place/&title=TTC puts second entrance to Donlands station exactly where it wanted to in the first place&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/donlands.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_53506" align="alignleft" width="152" caption="Sign at Donlands Station (Image: Danielle Scott)"][/caption]
Those with long memories for somewhat obscure controversies might remember a little kerfuffle ensued when the TTC planned to add a second entrance to the Donlands and Greenwood subway stations. What’s the problem? The TTC proposed to condemn several homes in the neighbourhoods around those stations and assimilate them into the new entrances, Borg-style. There was a community outcry, and, predictably, the TTC offered a round of public consultations. The result? Unfortunately for the locals around Donlands, not much has changed according to the Globe and Mail:
Despite months of discussions and a consultant’s study that pointed to several less-disruptive locations, TTC officials have settled on the same plan that prompted the outcry in the first place – to raze two homes on Strathmore Boulevard and partially expropriate another 10 properties to make way for the exit.
The $8-million project, to begin in 2013 and take about two years, is meant to improve emergency safety at Donlands Station, one of several single-exit subway stops slated for the measure.
“We looked at a whole range of options and all the issues that come with them to try and find a way to not have to take these two houses,” TTC spokesman Brad Ross said in an interview Sunday. “Unfortunately we were unable to come up with one because of various constructability issues, engineering issues and ultimately, cost.”
Okay, this looks bad—almost as if the TTC had never planned to take the public seriously in the first place. But we’re actually tempted to cut the TTC some slack for once because of the very similar story at Greenwood that turned out differently: the TTC worked with an engaged public, found a solution and went ahead and implemented it.
We vaguely remembered the story of Greenwood from the election (Rocco Rossi worked it into a debate once or five million times, we think) and confirmed it with Brad Ross via e-mail today. “We found an alternative, i.e. different home, that works and where the owner is prepared to negotiate with us. Always better than expropriation.” While the story of Donlands looks bad—and the results clearly don’t make anyone happy—it doesn’t look like the TTC wasn’t trying. The residents of Strathmore say they’ll take this all the way to the mayor’s office—and good for them—but sometimes you have to settle for the least-bad solution.
• Second Donlands subway stop exit done deal [Globe and Mail]
• TTC Slams Door on Donlands Area Community Input [DonlandsSecondExit.ca]
• TTC Will Move Forward With Controversial Donlands Subway Exit Plan [CityNews Toronto]){kind=link}
While “taking the public seriously” is one element, there is also the possibility that the TTC had in fact identified the best solution in the first place.
Mike.
have you really ever been to the area?
go to the corner of strathmore and dewhurst / look south or west – you will find that the TTC’s solution is flawed…and not a good one.
Wow – what a horrible and poorly researched position. Because the TTC made a compromise at one station – their outrageously poor choices at another are completely justified. I am sorry, but maybe before publishing something that talks up an organization that already has way too much power to make decisions that affect the public interest a thoroughly researched position would be kindly appreciated.
I don’t get it. You say they compromise with Greenwood but not another and that means means the TTC is trying? How does that apply to Donlands. To me they are working with one site and not another.
And what’s with the Star Trek reference? Sounds like you need to stop watching the space channel and get out and research what you’re reporting on.
Having a TTC pensioner in a house slated for expropriation seemed to work for Greenwood … just sayin’
TTC made huge compromises at Greenwood, and refuse to make any at Donlands and this means the TTC should be cut some slack? Where’s the logic in that? What a crap article!
TTC was just giving lip service to the community till the spot light was off them and they could continue as planned.
This article is just laughable. I havent seen 1 engineer or surveyor in the area since last year when they did the paper work for the 2 corner houses in the first palce. The only thnig the TTC ever looked into the bottom of is a cup of coffee.
The report from the consultant study clearly showed that the option to destroy the two homes was not a viable option. How can the TTC then turn around and decide to do it? What was the point of hiring a third party to do analysis if it was just going to be ignored? I’m appalled by the whole process. The TTC does NOT have my support
What’s with the snyde tone? Do you have some vendetta against someone in the Donlands area? I’d say with the TTC’s track record, you may well be sleeping in the ticket booth yourself while perhaps on their payroll.
I think it’s awful that this issue is still going on. I understand why residents are still upset. The TTC seems to never really care about the city anyway. They just like to take care of their own.
OMG – seriously…they are going back to their original site? That is just horrible. Why hired consultants if you aren’t even going to listen to them. This organization needs some oversight. This is disgraceful, and the article that supports it is even more so.
People can’t see through a sham consultation eh? Ask any resident and they will tell you this consultation was doomed to fail. From TTC engineers talking down to ppl in the community, changing information and criteria, promising one thing then doing another….you can’t give credit to lipservice.
Sham consultation is worse than no consultation. It is expensive and a waste of everyone’s time. The TTC needs a new model and new people with actual skills in working with the public.