(rshsdepot) Toronto, ON

[I95BERNIEW_@_aol.com]

From today's Toronto Star.
 
Bernie Wagenblast
 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
Upgrade at Union takes 'courage'
 
Miller  champions $388M plan to restore station to former glory with repairs, 
retail  mall
Dec 13,  2007 04:30 AM 
Paul  Moloney 
city hall bureau
Holding up an  80-year-old Toronto Daily Star banner headline heralding the 
opening of  Union Station, Mayor David Miller yesterday vowed to return the 
transportation  hub to its original glory.
 
The headline said the new station hummed with life. Despite decades of  
neglect, it can again, Miller said. 
"What we're actually saying today is that this city council has the courage – 
 and you have to take a little bit of risk – to make Union Station hum with 
life  again today," Miller said. "And that is what we're doing."  
To get there, city council voted 39-5 for a $388.3 million plan that calls  
for $101 million in repairs; a $137 million retail mall that requires 
excavating  beneath the station; and the rest in heritage- and transportation-related  
improvements.  
To fund the renovations, the plan contemplates raising money from federal and 
 provincial governments and the private sector, to revitalize the station by  
2016. 
Miller hopes a private-sector investor, such as a pension fund, would invest  
in the new retail area, and that the other governments come on board with  
cash. 
Staff were instructed to begin the search and report results by next  
September. 
The federal government had offered $25 million back in 2000, although the  
money has yet to arrive. Miller wants Ottawa to increase its contribution, but  
he declined to disclose how much he's looking for. 
"The federal finance minister has been very clear: `Start your projects, and  
we'll fund them.' We're starting our project." 
Not everyone was so enthusiastic. Councillor Michael Walker said it would be  
better to sell it to a provincial agency, the Greater Toronto Transportation  
Authority (newly dubbed Metrolinx). 
"Here we are spending $270 million on the hope that this rental in this mall  
is going to pay for it in the future. It's all driven around basically a lot 
of  pixie dust about whether it's going to make money."  
Councillor Pam McConnell said this is a chance to make a difference for  
Torontonians. "We have an opportunity to do something quite unique – to secure  
this station for the next 200 years." 
Councillor Adrian Heaps described the station as a "jewel," adding, "Mark my  
words, this will be a tourist destination." 
Council agreed to get the ball rolling by continuing to retain architects, at 
 a cost of up to $2.4 million, as well as $1.8 million for lawyers and  
consultants. 
This is the second attempt at revamping the station.  
The city had hoped a private consortium called Union Pearson Group would  
invest up to $150 million in the building, but the deal fell apart in 2006 after  
six years of talks.



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