SJD_Toronto
Active Member
I like something along the lines of Midtown Station, to be honest.
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TJ O'Pootertoot
Senior Member
Instead of "Developer Friends," we could say "lobbyists" or "large corporations" or, as he always liked to say of the Liberals, "Special interests."
Either way, it's backroom stuff and while the Liberal governments were hardly immune from such things (remember Kirby GO?) it wasn't a constant barrage like this. I think it's a consistent pattern, especially over the fast few months, of selling our future to these groups and it seems like a safe bet that much of the OSC site (presumably not the valley part) will be sold off for development. If, it being Provincial land us being in a Housing Crisis and all, they turn it into a transit-oriented affodable housing project, I will look pretty paranoid and foolish. But I doubt that's going to happen based on recent rends.
crs1026
Superstar
The key differentiator is whether the government is merely supporting an enterprise (subsidy, tax relief, or whatever is very common and not really very controversial by itself, whatever the government) as a matter of deriving mutual benefit - or whether the taxpayer is shelling out to a business that is reaping a lucrative bottom line without giving back anything of real public value.
Ontario Place has been problemmatic for decades - worked well in its heyday, but in an era of Canada's Wonderland and Six Flags level entertainment complexes, it really isn't big enough or flashy enough to house a competing product. (Although it was always a very decent place to take one's family so the kids could enjoy the splashpad, have an ice cream, and not have to drive too far to get home when everyone gets tired). OSC has been lagging as an attraction, but that's a matter of mission and programming rather than finding a new or cheaper venue. Both properties are valuable venues for special events and niche exhibits and school outings.... but clearly won't draw enough revenue from that for upkeep on fairly high end, high maintenance complexes.
While one seldom wants to praise government for foot dragging, the reality is that past governments have erred on the side of preserving the public future while admitting defeat in attracting some viable business. That hasn't yielded a bright future, but I give that more credit than giving away the assets for minimal return.
If you haven't discerned a tectonic shift in how the Ford regime approaches development compared to past governments - and if you aren't concerned by the arbitrary and non-transparent use of power to drive those decisions, well, I don't think we will convince you. If this were in fact merely breaking through logjams (as claimed), I could give some credit - but as pointed out, there is virtually no public value preserved and much past investment being sacrificed. I could give more credit to corrupt regimes elsewhere who were caught taking bribes..... at least they had enough business acument to understand reward and risk. The Ford government is giving it up for free. The failure to extract anything in return is what I most take exception to.
- Paul
facepalming_brooklynite
Active Member
There's got to be something in it for him and his cronies, we just don't know yet what it is.
TJ O'Pootertoot
Senior Member
Apparently this was confirmed an hour ago but I hadn't seen it. These guys, they suck.
cplchanb
Senior Member
they can rename don mills to DM north or fairview mall since its right at its front doors...
Monarch Butterfly
Superstar
Maybe this may "suggestion" may come true...
Towered
Superstar
Is this the first we're hearing of this supposed "business case"?
Sunnyside
Senior Member
This is where the nomenclature should just stick to the street, even if it means duplication. The grid street network is so well set up for it that forcing new names just makes things confusing and detracts from the public’s ability to visualize the city and where they are in it. But I digress. I’d accept Don Mills S, since there’s no Don Mills south of here. Leave the original alone.
However, if we are going to insist on using unique names as per Metrolinx’s guides, then we should come up with something interesting for this node, seeing as it’s going to be fairly important. The OSC was really going to tie it all together, but it can still have a sense of place. Maybe if the crosstown moniker is dropped after line 5 opens, the station could be called “crosstown place” “Don Crossings” “the crossways” or integrate the phrase into the name some other way. Something that emphasizes the intermodality of the site.
TJ O'Pootertoot
Senior Member
I mean, depending what hour of the day it is, Doug Ford is either saying this has been in the works for years or he just found out last week or I dunno.
I guess it depends whether you want to be Paranoid and Cynical, assuming this has been the plan all along, and they just had to move their chess pieces into place or...
You can be Resigned and Cynical, assuming there is no master plan and this is all back-of-the-napkin stuff they just fell into or...
Well, I guess you can be in Ford Nation and think this is amazing and brilliant and will do wonders for transit and for the decrepit Ontario Place and rotting hulk of the Science Centre and such.
Maybe there are other options too?
Admiral Beez
Superstar
I worked at Ontario Place for two summers, 1992 and 1993 in the parking lot and admissions depts. Even back then I could tell this place was lagging. I read the entirety of Tom Clancy’s Red Storm Rising whilst sitting bored AF in the parking lot, where even in the warmth of July and August the lot might have a dozen cars on a weekday.
Voltz
Senior Member
I'm foreseeing a large change order bill for Crosslinx to change the name of the station.
nfitz
Superstar
Hopefully Crosslinx will be collapsed by then. It took them 3 years to plan the existing centre, followed by 2 years to design it, and then 3 more to build it. So Science Centre station is good until now.
They'll have to redo all the signage in 7 years or so when the Ontario Line and the Line 5 extension open - so they might as well rename it then, in the same manner they are doing Eglinton West.
What to call it other than Eglinton-Don Mills is a mystery to me. There's not many landmarks left there other than Foresters. Alternatively, they could rename Don Mills station - which isn't even near Don Mills.
Jane2021
New Member
They could rename Science Centre Station to Don Mills Station and Rename Don Mills station to Fairview Mall Station
Amare
Senior Member
It doesnt fit Metrolinx' idiot station naming convention.