By Eyeopener Staff
While Ryerson’s head honchos and Toronto politicians were schmoozing, kissing and carrying on about the Yonge-Dundas redevelopment deal signed, sealed and delivered last week, we couldn’t help but think how this is going to affect Ryerson.
Already in city-centre hell, our university is going to undergo some huge changes in the next four years.
So frosh, get ready to pay the price.
With this redevelopment will undoubtably come traffic chaos. You can bet the dumptrucks, tractor-trailers, backhoes and paving equipment won’t be left out on Yonge St.
Instead, watch Victoria Street become mud-central. Leave your fancy stilettos at home and bring out your rubber boots once the digging starts.
The streets will never be the same. Traffic will rise no matter what the city does short of closing Gould St., and there will be thousands more folks flocking to the 30 new theatres, the fancy stores, bars and restaurants coming to the area.
That will have landlords salivating with anticipation. Finally, the Ryerson area will be chic. Condo mavens and apartment bosses know that means more cash for them. So over the next four years expect rent to skyrocket.
Of course, this is not all bad. How can being at the centre of the new hip, happening part of town be bad? How can a $1 million payoff to the school be bad?
Actually it’s probably Claude Lajeunesse’s we dream come true.
Unfortunately those of us at the school now will only see the construction turning Rye into Mud U.
So Ryerson administration, hear this message: don’t forget the students of today as the Ryerson of tomorrow takes shape.
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