From whispers that Metrolinx (run by Premier Wynne) wants to build an office and condominium tower at Eglinton and Bayview, to the closure of the south lanes of Eglinton Ave. E., the wild and crazy intersection of Eglinton Ave E. and Bayview Ave. is living down to its hairy reputation (Wild & Crazy 1). Concerns that the provincial transit agency wants to go high at Eglinton and Bayview have been lurking for many months. Early this year Metrolinx began muttering about “recovering costs” by building up on the site of the now vacant McDonald’s, future site of the Bayview LRT station.
MUCH LARGER FOOTPRINT
Now Metrolinx has created a much larger footprint for this possible undertaking by purchasing the two four-plexes on the east side of Bayview to the immediate south of the station. Is Metrolinx going to try to build multiple storeys on the corner like Rio.Can has proposed for Sunnybrook Plaza. Metrolinx is now looking at a rectangular piece of property on Bayview Ave. that rivals the land assembled by the Brown Group on Bayview between Soudan Ave. and Hillsdale Ave. The Metrolinx property, if it is all used as a foundation for the a tower, will be a premier new address on Bayview Ave. The LRT station would be a sideshow in the basement for commuters
SUNNYBROOK STILL ACCESSIBLE AT THE EAST
Of immediate concern to motorists is the closure of the lanes on the south side of Eglinton between Mann Ave and Bessborough Ave. This information was contained in the Ward 25 newsletter of Jaye Robinson to constituents but it was also a stark reality on the road Friday. Today drivers were honking annoyed and quite cheesed as their more confused brethren took a little too long to figure out what they were supposed to do. All of this has to do with headwall construction for the LRT station. Looks like it will take most of the winter. Here’s a useful tip. Even though you can’t tell as you are eastbound on Eglinton, it is still possible to legally enter the Sunnybrook Plaza at the east end. It is tricky but doable.
