06 Jun 2016

How Will The Downtown Relief Line Affect My Property Value?

Downtown Relief Line (DRL) & Property Values

The recent announcement of the Downtown Relief Line’s preferred route has many folks living in the Leslieville area worried about their property values. Chief Planner, Jennifer Keesmaat has assured residents that expropriations won’t be necessary in this CBC interview (full interview and video embedded below).

“There won’t be expropriations along Pape. But there will be people who didn’t have a subway running underneath their house before who will now,”

Here’s the preferred route

Downtown Relief Line 2016 Property Values

When scanning local Facebook groups like the popular East End group I Am A Leslievillian you’ll notice many conversations mostly supporting the announcement and others armed with loads of misinformation spewing NIMBY uselessness. One commenter said “I want a subway but I don’t understand how going down the narrowest street south of Riverdale Avenue makes any sense.” to which another replied “You know that Subways go underground right?” which made us literally laugh out loud in the office.

One of our favourite comments comes from a loyal East Ender:

I am unsympathetic of anyone who benefits socially, culturally and financially from all the positives of living in a city, but turn around and attempt to quash progress that city is trying to make when it inconveniences them personally. Full stop.

Look, this project has been studied to death. We’re pretty sure all options have been looked at and this is the one that makes most sense.

The below grade construction is likely to be a pain in the butt for folks directly above the work in the short term but with improved tunneling technology and better insulated tunnels the short term pain will be an insignificant little bug when compared to the long term benefits of improved transit in Toronto. I mean look at this map below when comparing other City’s transit systems. We’ve got a long way to go for a “World Class” City with millions of residents.

 

So will the Downtown Relief Line affect your property value if it goes under your home. Yes. In a good way. BUT if you aren’t comfortable living with some construction your option is to sell right now or after it’s all done. The only time your property value may be affected would be if you tried to sell during construction.

Our research has shown that homes located directly above the Danforth/Bloor Subway line have appreciated just as aggressively as homes further away.

Wanna sell? Call us. Do you live on/near the proposed route? We’d love to hear from you. Comment below.

Downtown Relief Line – Upcoming Public Meetings

RELIEF LINE Wednesday, June 15

Matty Eckler Community Centre
953 Gerrard St East
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Presentation at 7:00 pm

RELIEF LINE Monday, June 20

Calvary Church
746 Pape Avenue
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Presentation at 7:00 pm

TRANSIT NETWORK PLANNING Tuesday, June 21

City Hall
Members’ Lounge
100 Queen Street West
3:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Presentation at 5:00 pm

Latest Blogs