Another riddle:
If the City does a thorough title search, and realizes that they have an almost absolute claim on the Esplanade Corridor...and that many previous transactions have ignored that reality...would they recoil in horror and silence and keep it to themselves? The implications would be astounding, if not possibly poisonous to further development along the USRC. (For better or worse)
Reading back in this string, I see Alvin has already posted the Globe's last article link on it, as well as the Star's, where Pagliaro produces some fascinating quotes.
This is the most interesting one to me:
In a letter to executive committee this week, George Huggins, director of operations for TTR, identified the company and CN as “owners of most of the air rights and property strata above the (Union Station rail corridor).” He also criticized the city for moving toward rezoning the area, calling it “premature and inappropriate.”
But in a later email to Tory’s chief of staff, which was forwarded to the Star, Huggins clarified that “TTR has a history of collaborating with the City of Toronto in moving important public infrastructure projects forward, and we will continue to co-operate on any and all projects. We regret any misunderstanding.”
https://www.thestar.com/news/city_h...ir-that-rail-deck-park-would-be-built-on.html
"We regret any misunderstanding.". That comment resonated with me then, it still does. No comment beyond my hearing eggshells cracking...
Edit to Clarify:
many previous transactions have ignored that reality
In all fairness, although John Sewell claims otherwise, the City may not have been aware of the limitations of the 'concessions' granted the railways along the Esplanade. As to why not is a very good question, Sewell certainly attempted to make them so. He titled a chapter "The Railway Swindle" in one of his books.
https://books.google.ca/books?id=T8s8Xwza6j8C&pg=PA96&lpg=PA96&dq=john+sewell+railway+swindle&source=bl&ots=s2JpSI0YRR&sig=vJxMoxDqHKmK6PMzOmZKGSQ1BTo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjt45C1uYvUAhWGxYMKHRtoBDwQ6AEILzAB#v=onepage&q=john sewell railway swindle&f=false
One could understand the City and Province (who hold the records, it's their jurisdiction) not knowing if Joe Blow got a variance for his pig slaughter operation at the foot of Peter Street in 1897, but for the City, putting a subway right next to Union Station, and many other *major* projects in the lower core not knowing something so profound as ownership of the USRC and Esplanade defies rational belief. Not only are the underpasses and RoW their property, there's a major sewer running through area mentioned in the Statutes, and how the railways using the RoW had to contribute to upkeep and pay per annum on the 'concession' as well as infrastructure costs.
This 'absence of records' is so irrational that it lends itself to conspiratorial silence scenarios...
Here's an excerpt from Sewell's "Up Against City Hall". Note the reference to the SCC:
Pg 99, link above.
(Note: Published 1972, figures stated circa that time)
It's easy to dismiss Sewell as being "far left"...but his linking and reference can't be ignored. A fair number of Toronto Cnclrs are also 'on the left'. Perhaps it's time for them to have coffee with John?
