rail deck park

Toronto could be forced to pay $340 million for air to build new downtown park

The private company that owns the location Mayor John Tory is looking to acquire to build an elevated park in downtown Toronto wants to charge the City a whopping $340 million — not for land, but for air.

The construction of Rail Deck Park, a green space that would take over eight hectares between Blue Jays Way and Spadina, depends on Toronto being able to acquire the airspace above the railroad tracks that currently run through the area via the Union Station rail corridor.

Council has been in talks with Craft-Kingsmen Rail Corp. to purchase or lease the 1.2 hectares of airspace the development company currently owns so that the city can build the aerial park reminiscent of New York City's High Line, but the two haven't yet been able to come to an agreement about what constitutes a reasonable price.

The developer is now asking for $340 million for the airspace, or to lease it to the city for a 49-year term, starting at $25 million per year for the first five years.

Another option it has put on the table is to permit the city to buy into Craft-Kingsmen's existing plans for a mixed-use development over the rail corridor, which it has named the ORCA project.

The company would provide a raised deck with 12 acres for park space — amid the condos and other structures it has planned for the area — to the city for $540 million.

Given the hefty pricetag of these three options, the City decided at a meeting on January 29 that it will go ahead with expropriation proceedings if necessary, meaning it will essentially seize the land for an amount it sees as fair — a reasonable reaction to the offer of charging hundreds of millions for air.

Lead photo by

@thingsmelissamakes


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Real Estate

Gorgeous century-old Toronto home is on the market for the first time since 1967

Toronto 'ghost building' at base of new tower has locals talking

Buyers are starting to offer over asking price for homes in these GTA neighbourhoods

A 130-year-old Toronto building could be partially demolished for new skyscraper

$20 million Toronto home was designed by same architect as Ontario Place and Eaton Centre

There's going to be a bidding war over this Toronto house listed for only $600K

Luxury fashion brand Missoni involved in new 68-storey Toronto skyscraper

Custom $2.8 million home offers suburban serenity in the middle of Toronto