[turini2]

Islamic Society of Toronto and Metrolinx to convert building in Thorncliffe Park to a new Islamic Centre with significant additional community benefits - Metrolinx News

Today (Dec. 14), the Islamic Society of Toronto (IST) and Metrolinx are pleased to announce that an existing IST building, at 20 Overlea Boulevard in Thorncliffe Park, will be converted into a new Islamic Centre with significant additional community benefits, as part of the Ontario Line project...

blog.metrolinx.com

1) This is good, and a great benefit for the local community
2) If they had done a proper consultation and then Metrolinx suggested this, I think would have had better PR...

 

[Northern Light]

News report on the above:

Metrolinx signs $50M deal for new Thorncliffe Park Islamic centre amid opposition to Ontario Line rail yard

The upgraded centre will provide new religious facilities, as well as spaces for educational programs, a gym and a 24,000-square-foot business centre.

www.thestar.com

From same:

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Mx also stating they will work to relocate popular local supermarket Iqbal Foods.

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[Scotian]

"...but said any deal with the agency should have included affordable housing"

Metrolinx is building the cultural centre because it's displacing the cultural centre, not because the regional transit agency is also responsible for building infrastructure for religious institutions.

The train yard next to a Costco and a Purolator facility aren't destroying your neighbourhood and at no time should a transit agency be responsible for public housing.

This is why consultations are pointless, PR doesn't matter and transit agencies should just hurry up and dig.

 

[W. K. Lis]

When Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth) was being built, there was a church in way...

From link.

St. Joan of Arc Church at the southwest corner of Dundas Street W. and Edna Ave. The photo was taken during the early 1940s from the Vincent streetcar loop on the east side of Dundas St. W.

The church was demolished in the early 1960s to make way for Dundas West Subway Station. It was then rebuilt at 1701 Bloor Street W., next to Indian Grove.

In May 2019 the St. Joan of Arc Parish will be celebrating its 100th anniversary.

St. Joan of Arc Church before...

St. Joan of Arc Church today (at its relocated address)

From link.

Meanwhile across the street from Dundas West Station...

 

[Towered]

When Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth) was being built, there was a church in way...

From link.



St. Joan of Arc Church before...

St. Joan of Arc Church today (at its relocated address)

From link.

Meanwhile across the street from Dundas West Station...

The Crossways land used to host...an industrial bakery??

 

[W. K. Lis]

The Crossways land used to host...an industrial bakery??

The freshly baked bread smell was heaven at the time. Before pollution regulations put an end to that.

 

[Towered]

The freshly baked bread smell was heaven at the time. Before pollution regulations put an end to that.

Speaking of smells, does anyone remember the industrial building at the north-east corner of Bloor and Symington? My parents used to tell me it was a diaper washing facility, but as a kid I couldn't tell if they were joking or serious. I think it was called Brighton.

 

[TossYourJacket]

"...but said any deal with the agency should have included affordable housing"

Metrolinx is building the cultural centre because it's displacing the cultural centre, not because the regional transit agency is also responsible for building infrastructure for religious institutions.

The train yard next to a Costco and a Purolator facility aren't destroying your neighbourhood and at no time should a transit agency be responsible for public housing.

This is why consultations are pointless, PR doesn't matter and transit agencies should just hurry up and dig.

I love the logic of "we don't trust Metrolinx! but they should also be in charge of building affordable housing!"

 

[superelevation]

News report on the above:

Metrolinx signs $50M deal for new Thorncliffe Park Islamic centre amid opposition to Ontario Line rail yard

The upgraded centre will provide new religious facilities, as well as spaces for educational programs, a gym and a 24,000-square-foot business centre.

www.thestar.com

From same:

View attachment 369174

***

Mx also stating they will work to relocate popular local supermarket Iqbal Foods.

***

View attachment 369176

***

View attachment 369177

Pretty sure the same person was quoted about the community hub before, now that that problem is solved . . .

 

[DirectionNorth]

News report on the above:

Metrolinx signs $50M deal for new Thorncliffe Park Islamic centre amid opposition to Ontario Line rail yard

The upgraded centre will provide new religious facilities, as well as spaces for educational programs, a gym and a 24,000-square-foot business centre.

www.thestar.com

From same:

View attachment 369174

***

Mx also stating they will work to relocate popular local supermarket Iqbal Foods.

Why didn't they announce this before or while announcing they would demolish the old one? Sheesh.

 

[SkylineHorizon]

Of course they would choose Bechtel, one of the most controversial multinational corporations in the world. They make SNC-Lavalin look like saints.

Bechtel Corporation | Federal Contractor Misconduct Database

FCMD tracks contractor misconduct, including fraud, poor performance, and noncontract violations, in order to improve transparency and public awareness of how Uncle Sam spends billions annually.

www.contractormisconduct.org

bechtel | Violation Tracker

Violation Tracker, produced by the Corporate Research Project of Good Jobs First, is a wide-ranging database on misconduct by large and small corporations throughout the United States.

violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org

The Ford government and Bechtel basically deserve each other. This is just a disaster waiting to happen.

Honestly... The Ford government would probably award Union Carbide a contract for something if that were still an option.

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

Of course they would choose Bechtel, one of the most controversial multinational corporations in the world. They make SNC-Lavalin look like saints.

Bechtel Corporation | Federal Contractor Misconduct Database

FCMD tracks contractor misconduct, including fraud, poor performance, and noncontract violations, in order to improve transparency and public awareness of how Uncle Sam spends billions annually.

www.contractormisconduct.org

bechtel | Violation Tracker

Violation Tracker, produced by the Corporate Research Project of Good Jobs First, is a wide-ranging database on misconduct by large and small corporations throughout the United States.

violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org

The Ford government and Bechtel basically deserve each other. This is just a disaster waiting to happen.

Not liking anything about this.

 

[toronto647]

As expected city approves Metrolinx's construction plan for the downtown section. See below link:

Side Note - For the residents along the Crosstown LRT at Don Mills and Eglinton good luck once the north report comes out. Metrolinx is planning a facility there for construction at that intersection and extensive construction related closures. Just when these Don Mills and Eglinton folks thought they were out of the clear lol. On the bright side their properties will keep increasing like crazy. Double Jackpot. First Eglinton LRT and now Ontario Line. Most lucky intersection in recent memory for new transit infrastructure since perhaps yonge bloor decades ago.

Side Note 2 - Just thought about this but by the time Ontario line is done in 2030 ish then construction will start for Ontario Line North lol and construction again at Don Mills and Eglinton. About 30+ years in total construction for transit in that area. 2011-22 EGLRT, 2023 - 2031 - Ontario Line 2032-2043 Ontario Line North. LOOOL

Toronto City Council approves coordinated traffic plan in preparation for Ontario Line construction

News Release December 16, 2021 Today, Toronto City Council approved plans for long-term, temporary traffic changes that will enable the construction of the section of the province’s new Ontario Line from Exhibition Station to the future Corktown Station between 2022 and 2029. The preliminary...

www.toronto.ca

 

[asher__jo]

Not liking anything about this.

Hmmmmm, hire an American firm that will employee temporary foreign workers?

 

[toronto647]

At about 1:48:45 the project lead for YNSE commented that there is an agreement in place for the YNSE not to open until the Ontario Line is fully functioning with passengers onboard them. The lead also commented they anticipate the YNSE to open "end of 2031" which could mean the Ontario Line is not anticipated to finish until close to that for there to even be an agreement in place. If OL were to be open by 2030 whats the point of having an agreement in place when there is a 2 year buffer. Educated Guess would be OL will open towards the end of 2031 at the earliest.

Pressures on the Ontario Line to deliver ASAP