A Toronto committee is asking GO Transit to purchase a piece of land next to the Port Union Village Common Park for a commuter parking lot, after city parks officials said the privately owned land is of no use to the city.The city's Government Management Committee voted unanimously yesterday to make the request of GO, at the behest of local Ward 44 (Scarborough East) Councillor Ron Moeser.
The 2.3-acre parcel of land at the foot of Port Union Road would, Moeser hopes, be converted into a parking lot to service the Rouge Hill GO train station - the latest in a series of uses that have been proposed for the land.
Early last summer, the owners - Eden Oaks - came forward with a proposal to redevelop the industrial-zoned land into a townhouse development. But earlier this year, Moeser asked the Scarborough Community Council to look at acquiring the land from the developer for parking.
But city parks staff said the new waterfront park doesn't need parking at that spot. So Moeser came forward supporting asking GO to purchase the land.
"There's no doubt the community itself is on board with this," said Moeser.
If the land is turned into a parking lot, it would be some distance to the east of the Rouge Hill station - commuters would cross through the park and the community to get to the train.
The matter is still subject to negotiation between GO and the landowner.