Post by Jari on Nov 30, 2004 18:47:38 GMT -5
Sometimes you have to let progress win. If these people have a problem they can always move out of the city and purchase more grassland. This project must be built and soon... Any deleys cost the city $$$ and the prioce of construction will just keep on going up. But on the other hand maybe the city didnt approach these landowners in a respectfull manner?
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Kenaston underpass project hits speed bump
CJOB News has learned the City of Winnipeg might need to force some land owners off their property to pave the way for the Kenaston underpass.
The confidential report obtained by CJOB says the city needs to start the expropriation process immediately, given the spring start date on part of the underpass. There are seven properties in question, all along Wilkes Avenue, west of Kenaston toward Shaftesbury Boulevard.
According to the report, there are at least two property owners who don't seem willing to give up their land, and the Planning Property and Development Department thinks they may not be able to reach a settlement in time for construction to start.
The report says the owner of a farm at 1237 McCreary Road believes giving up her property would be a detriment to her equestrian business. Across the way at 1240 McCreary, the report says the owners are not willing to sell any of their property to the city and are even ready to take the matter to litigation.
The city needs the land for a roadway widening project called the Sterling Lyon Parkway.
The confidential report goes to the Property and Development committee Tuesday morning.
CJOB's Tamara King reporting.
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City to expropriate land for underpass
By ROSS ROMANIUK, CITY HALL REPORTER
The city is preparing to spend more than $2.5 million to expropriate seven properties needed for construction of the Kenaston Boulevard underpass. City hall bureaucrats have told councillors the properties near the intersection of Route 90 and Wilkes Avenue must be expropriated because negotiations have hit snags on at least three residential or commercial parcels.
'YOU CAN'T HAVE IT'
Homeowner Ken Lee and his wife have been told by the city that it needs part of his McCreary Road yard just off Wilkes for new roadway connections, despite it being about three kilometres west of the underpass site.
They said, 'We need this and we need that.' I said, 'You can't have it,' " Lee told The Sun yesterday. "They haven't shown us why they need land on McCreary," he added. "We think it's almost like a scam to take some property from us that almost isn't part of this whole project."
Councillors refused to discuss the matter before a private report is tabled for the city's property committee this morning.
The seven properties include tracts owned by Canadian National, whose busy main line is the reason for the $47-million underpass project just north of Wilkes Avenue. The report says that while CN parcels will likely form part of a "large omnibus land exchange" with city hall, the expropriation is needed soon "to ensure possession in sufficient time."
CN regional spokesman Jim Feeny confirmed the city has informed it of an expropriation if necessary.
"It's not something we're terribly excited about," Feeny told The Sun. "But we're confident that we're going to be able to achieve a mutually satisfactory negotiated settlement without that taking place."
Lee denied the report's claim that he's prepared to fight any buyout in court but insisted he must be treated fairly and told why a chunk of his yard -- nine metres wide on McCreary and seven metres on Wilkes -- is needed for the underpass to connect to Sterling Lyon Parkway and other streets.
A city spokeswoman's explanation that it's for "safety reasons" makes no sense, he said.
"The more I think about that, it's just dumb," Lee added. "But they're going to take it anyway, whether I like it or not. They're the city and they have a lot of power."
A horse-riding academy on McCreary has told the city that a buyout of part of its land would hurt its business, the report says.
Other properties targeted include land owned by Fort Whyte Foundation Inc. and Kenaston Intermodal Ltd.
----------
Kenaston underpass project hits speed bump
CJOB News has learned the City of Winnipeg might need to force some land owners off their property to pave the way for the Kenaston underpass.
The confidential report obtained by CJOB says the city needs to start the expropriation process immediately, given the spring start date on part of the underpass. There are seven properties in question, all along Wilkes Avenue, west of Kenaston toward Shaftesbury Boulevard.
According to the report, there are at least two property owners who don't seem willing to give up their land, and the Planning Property and Development Department thinks they may not be able to reach a settlement in time for construction to start.
The report says the owner of a farm at 1237 McCreary Road believes giving up her property would be a detriment to her equestrian business. Across the way at 1240 McCreary, the report says the owners are not willing to sell any of their property to the city and are even ready to take the matter to litigation.
The city needs the land for a roadway widening project called the Sterling Lyon Parkway.
The confidential report goes to the Property and Development committee Tuesday morning.
CJOB's Tamara King reporting.
------------------
City to expropriate land for underpass
By ROSS ROMANIUK, CITY HALL REPORTER
The city is preparing to spend more than $2.5 million to expropriate seven properties needed for construction of the Kenaston Boulevard underpass. City hall bureaucrats have told councillors the properties near the intersection of Route 90 and Wilkes Avenue must be expropriated because negotiations have hit snags on at least three residential or commercial parcels.
'YOU CAN'T HAVE IT'
Homeowner Ken Lee and his wife have been told by the city that it needs part of his McCreary Road yard just off Wilkes for new roadway connections, despite it being about three kilometres west of the underpass site.
They said, 'We need this and we need that.' I said, 'You can't have it,' " Lee told The Sun yesterday. "They haven't shown us why they need land on McCreary," he added. "We think it's almost like a scam to take some property from us that almost isn't part of this whole project."
Councillors refused to discuss the matter before a private report is tabled for the city's property committee this morning.
The seven properties include tracts owned by Canadian National, whose busy main line is the reason for the $47-million underpass project just north of Wilkes Avenue. The report says that while CN parcels will likely form part of a "large omnibus land exchange" with city hall, the expropriation is needed soon "to ensure possession in sufficient time."
CN regional spokesman Jim Feeny confirmed the city has informed it of an expropriation if necessary.
"It's not something we're terribly excited about," Feeny told The Sun. "But we're confident that we're going to be able to achieve a mutually satisfactory negotiated settlement without that taking place."
Lee denied the report's claim that he's prepared to fight any buyout in court but insisted he must be treated fairly and told why a chunk of his yard -- nine metres wide on McCreary and seven metres on Wilkes -- is needed for the underpass to connect to Sterling Lyon Parkway and other streets.
A city spokeswoman's explanation that it's for "safety reasons" makes no sense, he said.
"The more I think about that, it's just dumb," Lee added. "But they're going to take it anyway, whether I like it or not. They're the city and they have a lot of power."
A horse-riding academy on McCreary has told the city that a buyout of part of its land would hurt its business, the report says.
Other properties targeted include land owned by Fort Whyte Foundation Inc. and Kenaston Intermodal Ltd.