Six Points interchange project faces stakeholder criticis

The Six Points interchange in Etobicoke will undergo major development and reconstruction beginning this March.

The intersection connecting Bloor Street West, Kipling Avenue and Dundas Street West will see new roads, bike paths and park space over the next couple of years. However, not all stakeholders in the area were pleased.

“We’ve been involved in this for over 10 years, and we thought it was a waste of money,” said Terry Reardon, co-director of the Islington Ratepayers and Residents Association.

Reardon’s residential association includes those in the Six Points area, and members were told the project would include facilities that have since been pulled out of the plan.

“The initial thought was that it would attract other municipal buildings like a courthouse, but that was cancelled by the government,” said Reardon.

One facility that will certainly be included in the final development is a new YMCA location, which the residential association has yet to endorse or disapprove.

“We have to have another vote on whether we support it or not, ‘cause as of right now it’s more of an individual opinion thing,” said Reardon.

Another kind of stakeholder in this development is small businesses, and one long- standing burger restaurant owner in the area isn't fond of the new ideas.

Anne Bicci, co-owner of Apache Burger said “a city planner wanted to know if they could close our Dundas entrance permanently in order to put flower planters in. I said ‘no’.”

An additional component of the plan would be to reconfigure the bridges and ramps at the interchange in order to make Kipling subway station more accessible. However, Bicci disagreed with this choice.

“Even though [the main bridge of the interchange] hasn’t been and still isn't great, the money could be spent better in other places,” said Bicci.

The City of Toronto has been made aware of such complaints and opinions, but its urban designer said this project also comes down to safety and comfort, not just fresh designs.

“Currently, Six Points is challenging. It creates barriers and is a deterrent for pedestrians and cyclists as the connections are not continuous and the environment is less than ideal,” said Emilia Floro, program manager of urban design for the City of Toronto.

“The Six Points reconfiguration is being undertaken in order to provide safe, comfortable and attractive pedestrian and cycling connections in the area and through the area,” said Floro.

According to the project website, the Six Points interchange reconfiguration will wrap up in the spring of 2020.

GRAPHICS COURTESY/City of Toronto