Five historic trees growing in downtown Toronto will not be torn down immediately to make way for a new subway station.
tree at the base of Osgoode HallIn university avenue And Queen Street area, were due to be removed by metrolinx as part of his plan to build the Ontario Line.
To allow a station at the intersection, the provincial transit agency said it would need to cut down five historic trees.
After opposition from many, including Toronto Mayor John Tory, Metrolinx agreed to have a third party weigh in on its plans. But then, as expected, it reversed that decision around November 22, saying plans to cut trees would go ahead.
Metrolinx plans to cut down trees at historic Osgood Hall, leaving review
read more
Now, both the Law Society of Ontario — based at Osgoode Hall — and the provincial transit agency say the trees will be allowed to stay, at least temporarily.
“Metrolinks has now agreed that this removal is not necessary to facilitate an archaeological assessment proposed for the Ontario Line station Metrolinks site,” the Law Society of Ontario said in a statement Tuesday.
In a statement sent to Global News, Metrolinks said it has found “an alternative way” to continue construction.
It is not clear how long the relief will last.
The law society said the future of its green space “remains uncertain,” describing the relief as “temporary.”
In its statement, Metrolinx also implied that the latest development may not be permanent. It said it could “commence archaeological work on the site for the future Osgoode station before any trees are removed.”
The transportation agency did not respond to a question about the long-term future of the trees.
The Law Society of Ontario said it would “continue discussions to pursue all reasonable options to reduce or eliminate the impacts of the Ontario Line development on Osgoode Hall and its grounds while balancing the complex needs of Toronto and the region”. “
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.