Richmond Hill mayor updates chamber members on subway, trees, housing

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 5, 2015
By Marney Beck

A subway to Richmond Hill, high levels of community involvement and The Hub housing project for youth and seniors were key themes of Mayor Dave Barrow’s annual update speech at the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce luncheon Friday.

Before he began his speech at the Richmond Hill Golf and Country Club, he introduced federal MP Costas Menegakis (now Conservative candidate) and MPP Reza Moridi.

To the latter he warned that statements in his speech could be seen as criticisms of the province, “but there’s compliments here, too”.

Outlining or updating listeners on many of the town’s strategic plans such as the parks plan, Greening the Hill and Liveable Spaces Plan, Barrow noted: “they don’t sit on shelves, they sit on desks, we’re actively working on them”.

Concerning the town’s trees, he noted the town has removed 3,100 ash trees affected by emerald ash borer and already replanted 1,250 trees.

Proudly noting that in the past year Richmond Hill was singled out as one of the top places in Canada to live and work, Barrow noted: “We’re a town that acts as a city”.

One key to keeping the small-town feeling and making Richmond Hill unique is encouraging citizens to be engaged and offer input into their town and plans for the future.

One of several short videos shown during the lunch depicted citizens painting crosswalks on a downtown section of Yonge Street with white images of children playing and families enjoying activities together.

When describing transportation challenges and achievements, and especially the subway extension north to Hwy. 7, an image projected behind the mayor showed a subway with the wording “Richmond Hill” at the front of the train.

“We’re shovel ready, the environmental assessment has been done for the subway,” said Barrow, noting the town is waiting for other levels of government and Metrolinx to approve and fund a subway up Yonge Street to Richmond Hill.

“With pre-construction activities already underway, we are expecting substantial completion by the end of 2018,” he said of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

Barrow also stressed Richmond Hill is “a town that doesn’t leave anyone behind” noting “soon The Hub will open, we fought hard for it” and explained there will be shelter beds for youth, plus subsidized housing units, but also a percentage of the units will be offered at market rents.