More than two dozen renters and homeowners on the east side of Pape Avenue in Riverdale have recently learned that they will have to give up their homes – at least temporarily – for the construction of the new Ontario Line.
"I'm heartbroken," Kate Maynard, one of the affected residents, told CTV News Toronto on Wednesday. She has lived on Pape Avenue for more than 30 years.
"I've been a part of this community for a very long time. I love it. My friends, family like it's hard to believe that we won't be able to afford to stay in Riverdale."
While residents knew that upcoming construction would disrupt their neighbourhood, Maynard said officials had repeatedly informed them in previous community meetings that their houses would be spared.
"We have all operated under that premise," she said. "And then about a week and a half ago, we had a letter jammed through our door and saying ‘emergency meeting with Metrolinx,’ and we attended that meeting four days later, and we were told that our houses were being expropriated."
On Wednesday morning, Metrolinx confirmed that it will be "acquiring" 25 homes on Pape between Langley and Riverdale avenues.
The Crown agency has not said exactly when this will occur, although residents who recently received a letter from the agency say that they must vacate their residences by November 2025.
In a statement provided to CP24, Metrolinx said it reached this decision after construction began in the neighbourhood and following "input from our tunnelling contractor now working on this part of the project."
"... we have a more refined understanding of local soil conditions and subsequent impacts to properties that may result from tunnelling for the Ontario Line," Metrolinx said, adding that the affected properties are "vulnerable to potential structural impacts" – mostly minor in nature like cracks in foundations, walls, and doorframes due to "tunnelling activities."
"We are acquiring these properties out of an abundance of caution and to ensure absolute safety for the neighbourhood and its residents," a media spokesperson wrote in an email.
"We only acquire properties that are absolutely necessary, and we always aim to alert property owners and tenants as early as possible when it is determined that the property may be needed."
Metrolinx to 'acquire' 25 homes in Riverdale for Ontario Line construction | CTV News
"I'm heartbroken," Kate Maynard, one of the affected residents, told CTV News Toronto on Wednesday. She has lived on Pape Avenue for more than 30 years.
"I've been a part of this community for a very long time. I love it. My friends, family like it's hard to believe that we won't be able to afford to stay in Riverdale."
While residents knew that upcoming construction would disrupt their neighbourhood, Maynard said officials had repeatedly informed them in previous community meetings that their houses would be spared.
"We have all operated under that premise," she said. "And then about a week and a half ago, we had a letter jammed through our door and saying ‘emergency meeting with Metrolinx,’ and we attended that meeting four days later, and we were told that our houses were being expropriated."
On Wednesday morning, Metrolinx confirmed that it will be "acquiring" 25 homes on Pape between Langley and Riverdale avenues.
The Crown agency has not said exactly when this will occur, although residents who recently received a letter from the agency say that they must vacate their residences by November 2025.
In a statement provided to CP24, Metrolinx said it reached this decision after construction began in the neighbourhood and following "input from our tunnelling contractor now working on this part of the project."
"... we have a more refined understanding of local soil conditions and subsequent impacts to properties that may result from tunnelling for the Ontario Line," Metrolinx said, adding that the affected properties are "vulnerable to potential structural impacts" – mostly minor in nature like cracks in foundations, walls, and doorframes due to "tunnelling activities."
"We are acquiring these properties out of an abundance of caution and to ensure absolute safety for the neighbourhood and its residents," a media spokesperson wrote in an email.
"We only acquire properties that are absolutely necessary, and we always aim to alert property owners and tenants as early as possible when it is determined that the property may be needed."
Metrolinx to 'acquire' 25 homes in Riverdale for Ontario Line construction | CTV News
