New ways out
If you've been following the news lately, you have probably heard that the TTC is planning to build second exits at Greenwood and Donlands stations. This will require property acquisition, as the exit has to go somewhere within the station box. I won't comment on the selection of the site, but I do feel the need to weigh in on some of the issues.First of all, this project is meant to meet the fire code. Stations need to have more than one exit in case of a fire, as they could potentially have to evacuate two fully loaded trains at the same time - something that would take ages with only one exit. There have been fires in TTC stations before, so this isn't planning for an unlikely hypothetical. Arguing that the money would be better spent on service expansion is a red herring.
Secondly, I get the sense that the process by which property is acquired is being distorted. Governments do not take your property - they buy it at market rates, and they generally offer you an allowance for moving expenses. Only if you refuse to voluntarily sell can they get a court to force a sale (this is know as expropriation) - but you still get market rate plus a moving allowance. When was the last time a buyer said "I'll give you asking plus moving costs"? To say that the community will be bulldozed is not helpful.
Ultimately the situation on Danforth will work itself out, but I tend to find that facts lead to a better outcome than half-truths and hearsay.
Labels: ttc
posted by Andrae Griffith @ 4:35 p.m.
2 Comments:
You’re being disingenuous. The effect is identical: You lose your house.
Additionally, you’re deliberately ignoring the half-assed, possibly intentionally underhanded, method by which TTC “announced” its intentions to expropriate and demolish people’s homes.
So hey: Can they expropriate yours next? Because it isn’t “the government” “taking” “your house,” after all. Who could possibly object for any reason whatsoever?
Thanks for the comment.
How come you didn't answer question I asked you on the Urban Toronto thread about the subway diversions, or the one I asked you the last time you commented here?
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