Residents fight to keep street unlit

subscribe

One of Toronto's last unlit streets is about to get lights, even though the residents argue they will ruin its unique rural feel.

There are no lights or sidewalks on Queensgrove Rd. in Scarborough, a wide-open street with small bungalows, sloping yards, and the odd car bound for one of its 29 houses.

“Cottage country in the city” is how Wally Kraftcheck, 69, describes it. He has lived on the street with his wife, Jeannette, for four decades.

Grant Wilson, 59, has taken part in four polls about streetlights in the 29 years he's lived on Queensgrove, located near Kingston Rd. and Warden Ave.

Nothing ever came of it.

But some residents recently learned that in 2006, the city signed an agreement with Toronto Hydro guaranteeing lighting on all city streets. The company decided it was finally time for Queensgrove to get lights during a standard electrical upgrade in the area, which just began.

Fond of the darkness, residents pushed back. Jim Bridger, 50, polled his neighbours about the plan. Twenty-four households voted against the lights, while two households wanted them. Three were impartial.

The homeowners thought they would be given a chance to make their case at a meeting with Toronto Hydro. When they arrived, however, they were asked if they wanted standard lights or upgraded ones with a granite finish.

Denise Attallah, a spokeswoman for Toronto Hydro, says the company has a legal obligation to the city to provide lights.

“Without street lighting black ice is harder to detect, there are more slips, trips and falls, crime can be affected,” she says.

Local councillor Gary Crawford Ward 36, Scarborough Southwest said he advocated strongly on the residents' behalf in discussions with Toronto Hydro.

“Our lawyers said, unfortunately, if they want to do it, they can do it, and there's very little that the city can do,” he said.

Evelyn and Don Kidd, both 83, are in the minority. Every time they turn their car onto Queensgrove at night, Don flicks on his high beams — so he doesn't hit dog-walkers, he says. “It just seems silly not to have street lights,” his wife adds.

But their neighbours say they have never had a problem. “I don't see it as a safety issue whatsoever,” says Jeannette Kraftcheck.

“It's quite a shock,” she says. “Been here so long, I'd hate to see it really change.”

The $1.9 million project has already begun. Residents do not know how much of money will be spent on the new Queensgrove's streetlights.

“How do they find the money for something like this that has been and will continue to be opposed by the residents?” Wilson asks.

Queensgrove Rd. has not yet been touched. The entire project is slated for completion by October.

Related News

powerlines

Toronto Prepares for a Surge in Electricity Demand as City Continues to Grow

TORONTO - Toronto faces a significant challenge in meeting the growing electricity needs of its expanding population and ambitious development plans. According to a new report from Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), Toronto's peak electricity demand is expected to nearly double by 2050. This highlights the need for proactive steps to secure adequate electricity supply amidst the city's ongoing economic and population growth.


Key Factors Driving Demand

Several factors are contributing to the projected increase in electricity demand:

Population Growth: Toronto is one of the fastest-growing cities in North America, and this trend is expected to continue.…

READ MORE
new mexico wind farm

New Mexico Governor to Sign 100% Clean Electricity Bill ‘As Quickly As Possible’

READ MORE

montana solar

Basin Electric and Clenera Renewable Energy Announce Power Purchase Agreement for Montana Solar Project

READ MORE

company-becomes-uk-second-largest-electricity-operator

Company Becomes UK's Second-Largest Electricity Operator

READ MORE

totalenergies-to-acquire-german-renewables-developer-vsb

TotalEnergies to Acquire German Renewables Developer VSB for US$1.65 Billion

READ MORE