The provincial transit agency Metrolinx has been eyeing different lots along Eglinton Avenue as potential sites for stations for the incoming Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) line.
Metrolinx said that though a few decisions have been made regarding property acquisition, many of the details are still up in the air. Some properties identified for acquisition include iconic steak house House of Chan and the Speaker Shop.
“The number of full properties required is still being determined because the station design process has not yet entered the detailed design phase,” said Vanessa Thomas, media relations and issues team lead for Metrolinx. “Full property acquisitions are being kept to a minimum and recommended only when there is a clear and supported case to the project.”
“[House of Chan] is scheduled to be acquired to allow for a station to be built,” Thomas said. “We expect that this station work will begin in late 2015 to early 2016.”
Metrolinx has stated that they are still negotiating the acquisition with House of Chan and a price has not yet been named.
Thomas said that once the acquisition is complete, fans of the steak house shouldn’t expect to say goodbye to the restaurant any time soon. “We’re working hard to keep this establishment open as long as possible.”
House of Chan could not be reached for comment at press time.
On March 24, site plan approval applications were filed with the City of Toronto, City Planning Division for LRT stations at 1578 Eglinton Ave. W. (Oakwood station), 1250 Eglinton Ave. W. (Allen station), 574 Eglinton Ave. W. (Chaplin station), 2190 Yonge St. (Yonge station), 256 Eglinton Ave. E. (Mount Pleasant station), 1787 Bayview Ave. (Bayview station) and 1155 Eglinton Ave. E. (Don Mills station).
Frank Fabian, who owns the Speaker Shop at 1578 Eglinton Ave. W., says that he’s been aware of Metrolinx’s plans for some time, but there has been plenty of uncertainty over the years. However, it is his understanding that his shop will eventually become a station.
“They’ve changed their minds three times in the last couple of years, so I don’t know what the reality is,” said Fabian. “But that’s the theory.”
Montreal-based children’s toy and book store Oink Oink says that they will be moving out of their location at 352 Eglinton Ave. W. (Eglinton and Avenue Road) this coming fall. “We are closing the store on Oct. 18,” said Linda Pinazza, general manager of Oink Oink. Pinazza said that the closure was related to LRT construction, presumably for the site of the Avenue Road station.
But Pinazza said that she had “no idea” if the store had been purchased by Metrolinx.
For its part, Metrolinx has denied any knowledge of any transactions or discussions of acquisition taking place. Thus far there is no development application for 352 Eglinton Ave. W.
“That’s not a property that we require,” said Jamie Robinson, director of community relations and communications at Metrolinx.
“There may be other issues there that the property owners are looking at, [but] that property is not one that Metrolinx requires to construct the station.”
