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New TTC Yard in Leslieville

I received a notice in the mail that the TTC is considering several sites in the area for storage of new streetcars. One of the sites is the film studio lands off Eastern where Smart Centres wanted to build its big box project. (see http://www.toronto.ca/involved/projects/lrv/pdf/map.pdf) For anyone concerned/interested, there will be public meetings this week, June 16, 17 and 18, 6:30-9:00, at Jimmy Simpson Gym (June 16) and the Auditorium at 895 Eastern (June 17 and 18) (for more, see http://www.toronto.ca/involved/projects/lrv/).

Tags: Leslieville, TTC

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Permalink Reply by Chris B on June 15, 2009 at 1:57pm

I received the same notice. I cannot even believe they would consider that site after all of the hubub over the Smart Centre and how the site is designated "employment lands" - how the hell does a TTC streetcar depot suit that purpose?

We should also be contacting Paula Fletcher to let her know that the proposed site on Eastern is ridiculous!

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Permalink Reply by Darlene on June 15, 2009 at 9:29pm

I agree It's absolute BS!!

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Permalink Reply by Craig MacPherson on June 15, 2009 at 10:44pm

I was surprised for a moment as well. Classic case of "be careful what you ask for".

Leslievillers asked the city to deny the Smart Centre (which would have given the entire south east side of the city an alternative to getting in their cars and driving to Warden/Eglinton or Leslie/Eglinton) and instead they try to give us a streetcar parking lot. Well, I guess that's what consultations are for. Let's make sure the city gets a very clear message that we demand better.

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Permalink Reply by John L on June 15, 2009 at 10:59pm

I really hope that members of the community will attend this week's meetings and let planners and the TTC know how they feel. Unfortunately, I'll be out of town and unable to attend, otherwise I'd definitely be there. Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by The Mason on June 15, 2009 at 11:20pm

A maintenance/storage facility of this magnitude with municipal ownership brings with it many employees that will visit and frequent local, small businesses in the neighbourhood. Public ownership guarantees properly maintained and designed facilities because one thing politicians don't want are complaints, but if they do come, there's usually nothing that can be corrected more quickly than facility maintenance/care. Supporting this proposal puts Leslieville on record as not another NIMBY neighbourhood, but rather one that is open to new ideas, concepts, diversity and meets the needs of the community as a whole as well as those of our next door friends.

I would ask that before knee-jerk-reacting to this that all positives and negatives of this project be weighed honestly and objectively in your mind and then take a stance. For those who opposed the "big-box" concept proposed earlier should remember that the reasons included heat-inducing and un-inviting acres of parking lots, much higher quick-trip destination visitors (as opposed to those visiting the neighbourhood and wondering to different shops and restaurants) and a building(s) that don't match the symmetry and texture of the surrounding area. I think we will find that what the TTC is proposing is something the entire GTA can benefit from and ultimately become one of the crown jewels of Leslieville.

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Permalink Reply by Nancy on June 16, 2009 at 6:03am

I wonder if this will eventually free up the streetcar lot on Queen east of Greenwood.

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Permalink Reply by Chris B on June 16, 2009 at 9:14am

With all due respect, I question how a TTC maintenance yard will become a 'crown jewel' of Leslieville. I certainly don't feel that way about the yard at Connaught St. as lovely as it may be.

Let's not forget - it wasn't just Leslievillers who were against the Smart Centre on Eastern - it was also the City, so that was not strictly a NIMBY-type situation, and comparing that to this is not quite appropriate.

My point was that given the primary reason that the site was rejected for a Smart Centre, namely that it wasn't part of the city's plan for "designated employments lands" for the space, and all the talk from the City about how they want higher-end jobs for the space, I would like to know how putting a TTC maintenance yard in that space better fits the city plan for that particular space. Simple as that. I just want to know how the space on Eastern even made the short list, given that the other 5 options are generally not near any residential areas. I want to know why they think Leslieville needs 2 TTC streetcar depots....you know, things like that.

The City made a very large fuss about what type of employment they wanted on the space on Eastern, so I want to know if this proposed maintenance yard is consistent with that or not.

I guess that's what public consultation is for......

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Permalink Reply by Nolin (Admin) on June 16, 2009 at 9:32am

Is there some sort of strategic routing/logistical significance to the Leslieville area of the city that makes it such a sought-after area for City maintenance and works facilities? Or is it just a result of the City still owning substantial land out here?

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Permalink Reply by Nolin (Admin) on June 16, 2009 at 10:46am

Having a great discussion on Twitter about the proposed LRT yard with @larrylarry. Feel free to join in!

http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23LeslievilleLRT

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Permalink Reply by William Baker on June 17, 2009 at 10:06am

Your nimby-ism is entirely misguided. A streetcar yard provides streetcar maintenance, which requires skilled labour, bringing relatively high-paying jobs into the area. Additionally, if you read the article you'll note that the newer light rail cars are higher capacity, in order to ease congestion on the Queen line.

I live in close proximity to the proposed area and have no problem with the yard being built.

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Permalink Reply by Andrea N on June 18, 2009 at 1:32pm

Please sign the petition to oppose the Eastern Avenue depot at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/OPPOSEdepotonEastern/

Want to make sure that the opposition is collected.

I know that many are writing to Paula Fletcher (councillor_fletcher@toronto.ca) and the TTC project (LRVYard@toronto.ca) but I want to make sure that the opposition support is tallied.

To oppose the location on Eastern Avenue for this depot. To be clear, this is oppose the location only and not the Light Rail Transit system.

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Permalink Reply by The Mason on June 18, 2009 at 3:21pm

For those opposed to the Leslieville site(s) could you explain why you're opposed? I've read the petition and there's no quantifiable reasons given and I haven't seen any outlined here as well. As I, and am sure many others, research this issue, it would help to understand and know the reasons on both sides.