Date:December 21, 1998

To:Chairman and Members of the North York Community Council

From:Roberto Stopnicki,

Director of Transportation Services - District 3

Subject:Real Estate Transactions - Service Road

North York Centre

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to provide additional information on the activities undertaken by staff regarding the acquisition of properties for the North York Centre Service Road.

Funding Sources, Financial Implication:

N / A

Recommendations:

That this report be received for information.

Council Reference/Background/History:

On July 29, 1998, City Council adopted a report from the Commissioners of Urban Planning and Development Services and Works and Emergency Services, outlining a proposed strategy to initiate the purchase of lands required for the completion of the North York Centre Service Road.. This report recommended that the $3.6 million available for the acquisition of property, through the Yonge Centre Development Charge funds, be used to acquire lands for this purpose. The report further recommended that an amount in the range of $1.5 million be included in capital budgets starting in 2001, to ensure that if a section of the Service Road is started, it can be completed.

At its meeting of December 3, 1998, during which the 1999 Capital Budget was deliberated, the North York Community Council directed staff to report in January 1999, on the steps that have been taken towards the completion of the Service Road.

Comments and/or discussion and/or justification:

Staff of the Property Services Division of the Corporate Services Department, have advised that significant activity has taken place in this regard.

A total of 27 properties were identified as required towards the completion of the road on the east side of Yonge Street, which is considered as the highest priority section of the Service Road..

Of these properties, one parcel at 30 Byng Ave. will be dedicated to the City as part of a recently approved development. For a second parcel, at 41 Olive Ave., offers and agreements have been completed and it is expected that this real estate transaction will be finalized soon, following the necessary review by the City=s Legal staff.

The remaining 25 property owners have been contacted. Of these, nine have responded positively and independent appraisers are being hired to determine the value of these properties, so that formal negotiations for their purchase can be initiated.

Two property owners responded negatively and staff is still awaiting a response from the remaining fourteen. A follow up with the latter has recently taken place.

Conclusions:

Of the 27 properties required for the completion of the North York Centre Service Road on the east side of Yonge Street, two will be acquired in the near future. Negotiations for nine others will be initiated as soon as appraisals are completed by independent appraisers. Fourteen other property owners have not responded to the City=s initial inquiries and have been mailed a follow up letter. Two of the property owners have indicated that at this time, they are not interested in selling their properties.

Contact Name:

Pascoal D=Souza, Manager, Traffic Planning/Right of Way Management - District 3

Telephone: 395-7458, Fax: 395-7482

Roberto Stopnicki,

Director, Transportation Services - District 3

g:\shared\servroad.wpd