Wide swath of land for BRT road widening infuriates property owners on Dundas
Widening the road for rapid transit will require some Dundas Street property owners to part with 15 feet (or more) of their land— beyond the existing sidewalk.
Recently, property owners were contacted by city hall about acquiring the land necessary to add dedicated bus lanes and a centre median as part of the East London Link rapid transit project.
If a sales agreement can’t be reached, the city will pursue expropriation.
Lou Fatibene, owner of Dundas Automotive Repair, says taking away about 18 feet of his property will make it virtually impossible to run his business.
“We won’t be able to back cars in and out (of the repair bays), trucks in and out, tow trucks won’t be able to come in,” he explains.
According to him, the city’s first offer was $52,000.
Widening the road has always been part of the city’s rapid transit plan along the stretch of Dundas Street near Ashland Avenue.
However, car lots and repair shops in the area say the ability to park and maneuver vehicles is a critical part of operating their businesses.
At Dundas Auto Sales, Mario Fatibene will lose 15 feet along Dundas Street, plus land to accommodate vehicles turning from McCormick Boulevard.
“We basically won’t be able to back a truck out of that garage door safely without hitting pedestrians on the new sidewalk,” he worries.Dundas Automotive Repair has been approached to sell a vital part of its parking lot in London, Ont. on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022 (Daryl Newcombe/CTV News London)
Homeowners east of Ashland Avenue have also been approached by the city to sell about 15 feet of their front lawns.
They’ve expressed concern that only a few feet of grass and a large retaining wall will separate their porches from the sidewalk and road.
Director of construction and infrastructure Jennie Dann says the city has modified the design to reduce the amount of land acquisition.
“We do need property to accommodate the two transit only lanes and the centre median, and that’s consistent with the approved EA (Environmental Assessment). Then what happens is those land needs increase at intersections,” she tells CTV News.
On Wellington Road, several properties were purchased in their entirety and cleared by the city because the buildings were in direct conflict with upcoming construction.
Director of realty services Bill Warner says existing structures don’t impede construction along that stretch of Dundas, but the new position of a property line can impact the city’s financial offer.
“If it does come so close that there is a change in the value of the overall property after we consider acquiring the partial property, we will also consider that in the offer of compensation,” Warner explains.
Offers are based on independent professional appraisals.
Warner adds that land acquisition in the area is still in the early stages.
But Lou Fatibene says faced with selling a vital piece of his property to the city or expropriation— he feels trapped.
“They are basically shutting me down from what I do,” Fatibene says. “They’ll put five people out of work.”
BRT construction in the area will likely start in 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.