Billion Dollar Park

[onthebottom]

Pretty much.

Any Big Dig in Toronto would cost more than the big dig in Boston. Just by virtue of the cost of unionized Canadian construction workers alone (the City of Toronto will only hire unionized contractors because they are in bed with the unions).

Personally, I'd rather see them spend money on building more subways in Toronto than EVER building a tunnel to replace the Gardiner. They would tear down the Gardiner and infill the land with more and more banal looking boxes (condos). I'd rather look at the Gardiner thanks.

Big Dig was a full on Union theft operation, but still a good outcome.

 

[mandrill]

Toll the Gardiner (it's limited entry/exit, the technology exists). Use the money for a downtown relief line.

There was a frosty reception in polls and focus groups for the idea of having toll HOV lanes in Toronto and the Wynn government quickly ran for cover. Tolling the Gardiner would lead to the barbarians sacking City Hall and lynching the inhabitants. I would bring the rope.

 

[mandrill]

I drive past the gash in the ground between Front and Rogers Centre every day and it cries out to be covered up. But I'm not getting the price tag part.

Why does it take a billion $ to deck over a half mile of railway cutting? They're doing it further west at Liberty Village with no suggestion of a massive cost. They also decked over part of the Yonge St subway decades ago.

Is it the structural requirement of adding dirt to make a park? If so, why not deck over the cut with wood or concrete and make the area into tennis courts and hockey rinks?

 

[mandrill]

I'm all for it.

5 bucks a trip would seem about fair.

That's about $300 a month out of my pocket to solve someone else's commute problems.

 

[explorerzip]

I drive past the gash in the ground between Front and Rogers Centre every day and it cries out to be covered up. But I'm not getting the price tag part.

Why does it take a billion $ to deck over a half mile of railway cutting? They're doing it further west at Liberty Village with no suggestion of a massive cost. They also decked over part of the Yonge St subway decades ago.

Is it the structural requirement of adding dirt to make a park? If so, why not deck over the cut with wood or concrete and make the area into tennis courts and hockey rinks?

The traffic on Yonge Street in the 1950's when the subway was built was a lot different than today as was the amount of people owning private cars. There were likely far fewer environmental and other assessments done at the time. Can't say that I am aware of what's going on over in Liberty Village, but my guess is that it is of a smaller scale than the 21 acre park being proposed.

 

[TeeJay]

It's not walking distance if you are walking with a three year old. Which is a big reason why people walk to parks.

You want parks to be within five or ten minutes walking distance.

You crazy man
Ever been to a park in downtown?
Noone be taking their 3 year old anywhere near the crack addicts, homeless people, or cheap hookers

 

[james t kirk]

That's about $300 a month out of my pocket to solve someone else's commute problems.

Perfect.

You're rich and won't miss it. :applouse:

 

[james t kirk]

I drive past the gash in the ground between Front and Rogers Centre every day and it cries out to be covered up. But I'm not getting the price tag part.

Why does it take a billion $ to deck over a half mile of railway cutting? They're doing it further west at Liberty Village with no suggestion of a massive cost. They also decked over part of the Yonge St subway decades ago.

Is it the structural requirement of adding dirt to make a park? If so, why not deck over the cut with wood or concrete and make the area into tennis courts and hockey rinks?

um, wood would not be a good idea.

The idea is to build a structure spanning the tracks in the west, then backfill it with soil so trees and plants can grow. It's doable but the cost would be more than a bill I'm sure. All the soil down there is lakefill from the late 1800s and as such, the entire structure would need to be built on piles. Hugely expensive.

 

[explorerzip]

You crazy man
Ever been to a park in downtown?
Noone be taking their 3 year old anywhere near the crack addicts, homeless people, or cheap hookers

Apparently, you haven't been to a park downtown especially in the daylight hours.

 

[Smallcock]

You crazy man
Ever been to a park in downtown?
Noone be taking their 3 year old anywhere near the crack addicts, homeless people, or cheap hookers

lol not true at all.

 

[SkyRider]

Just by virtue of the cost of unionized Canadian construction workers alone (the City of Toronto will only hire unionized contractors because they are in bed with the unions).

I think City of Toronto also has a policy of buying goods and services only from Ontario suppliers and that is why we are stuck with Bombardier making TTC trains.

One more comment about weird people attracted to parks. I would include those folks (usually seniors) who throw crumbs to pigeons. Reminds me of the TV commercial where a senior in a beret throws crumbs at Ace (Blue Jay mascot).