Concern over out-of-pocket legal fees, fair market housing value and the inconvenience of moving were the main bones of contention at a community meeting Monday focusing on the impact of the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) on the Mount Dennis neighbourhood.
York South-Weston Councillor Frances Nunziata and the Mount Dennis Community Association called the meeting to discuss what effects the Eglinton LRT will have on home and business owners along Eglinton Avenue from Weston Road to Black Creek Drive.Of the 100 properties directly affected by the Eglinton LRT route, 26 full and 10 partial properties are in Mount Dennis. Some 60 residents who came out to the meeting at the Salvation Army at Eglinton Avenue and Weston Road had a number of questions regarding property expropriation and the costs associated with moving and purchasing a new place of residence. The meeting heard each affected property owner will be dealt with individually and legal fees and moving costs will covered by the City, along with any potential mortgage penalty costs. Owners will be reimbursed for land transfer tax based on the value of the old home, not new one. Several residents asked why the Eglinton LRT, which is proposed to run above ground, can't be built underground, thereby avoiding significant neighbourhood disruptions. It boiled down to cost, city officials said, adding building the route above ground would run $100 million. "If the City can find $70 million for bike lanes it can find $100 million to build underground," said one angry resident, who was applauded. "We're not dollar signs, we want to stay in the community. You are choosing to save money."A centre platform for passengers to board the Eglinton LRT in both directions will be located on the west side of the Weston Road and Eglinton Avenue intersection, between stops at Jane Street and Black Creek Drive.Construction is scheduled to begin in 2010 or 2011. The 33-kilometre long corridor will provide LRT service across Eglinton Avenue from Kennedy Station to Martin Grove Road to Pearson Airport.The Eglinton LRT line will connect with Kennedy Station on the Bloor-Danforth subway line, Eglinton Station on the Yonge subway line and Eglinton West Station on the Spadina subway line. The line will also connect with the future Jane, Don Mills and Scarborough-Malvern light rail corridors.As it stands now, the Eglinton LRT will operate mostly at surface in the centre of the road with exception of a short underground section at Don Mills Road.An underground section has been proposed between Keele and Leslie streets because the width of Eglinton Avenue is not wide enough to accommodate the LRT line above ground and maintain two lanes of traffic in each direction.The line, which will replace TTC bus service on Eglinton Avenue, is expected to provide service every three minutes during peak periods on weekdays and every six minutes throughout the remainder of weekdays and on weekends.The provincial government is funding the $4.6-billion project.