Private partners named in Union Station reno

CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF

The final piece of the Union Station revitalization puzzle is in place now that the city has named two private-sector partners to carry out the massive $640-million redevelopment by 2015.

Mayor David Miller announced yesterday that the city has selected Osmington Inc. - through subsidiary Redcliff (Union Station) Inc. - to manage the development of 160,000 square feet of new retail space at the station, including construction of a new lower level shopping concourse.

With a 50-year lease and an option to renew for another 25 years, the company would manage a mix of stores, fast-food eateries and high-end restaurants.

Construction on the five-year project is scheduled to begin next spring. The overhaul will disrupt the thousands of commuters who stream through the station daily, but the winning construction company is promising to minimize inconveniences.

"We will make it as close to none as we can," said Graham Brown, the president of Carillion Construction.

The city named Vanbots, a division of Carillion, construction manager for the revitalization project, which also includes new concourses for GO Transit commuters, new exits and entries connecting Union Station to the Air Canada Centre and the downtown core, and new office space for GO Transit and Metrolinx, the regional transportation authority.

Vanbots is a major general contracting company whose recent projects include the ROM crystal and the new Allstream Centre at Exhibition Place.

David Thomson is a majority owner of Osmington, one of the largest private commercial real estate investment companies in Canada. His family holds a controlling interest in The Globe and Mail.

The overall project is financed through previously announced commitments by three levels of government, including $164.5-million from Ottawa, $172-million from the province and $304-million from the city. Toronto officials hope to eventually recoup much of the city's investment from lease fees.

"By 2015 what Torontonians are going to see is the foremost transportation hub in Canada completely revitalized," Mr. Miller said. "Picture one of the great stations in the United States of America [and]Europe and combine them."