Toronto Rebukes Retiree after He Built Stairs for City Park on His Own

[Orgasmo]

TLDR: Man complained to city officials after a couple of people slipped and fell on the public park embankment. He was told it would cost taxpayers anywhere from $65,000 to $150,000 for the project. He found the price tag outrageous and built it on his own for $550, but is now being asked to take it down as it wasn't approved.

While his intentions were certainly noble, should this kind of unauthorized project be encouraged?

A Canadian pensioner built a set of stairs at his local park for just C$550 when the city estimated it would cost at least C$65,000 ($51,500, £40,000). But instead of a thank you, Toronto has blocked off access to the steps and asked Adi Astl, 73, to take them down. Before the stairs were installed, Mr Astl said a few people had fallen down the steep muddy embankment to the park.

Mr Astl said he took matters into his own hands after his local councillor told him about the city's price tag. "To me, the safety of people is more important than money," Mr Astl told CTV News. "So if the city is not willing to do it, I have to do it myself."

He said the whole project took him and his neighbours about 14 hours. Mr Astl's councillor, Justin Di Ciano, said the official estimate, which the city said could go from $65,000 to $150,000, was outlandish.

City staff say they are re-assessing the estimate, which was based on a staircase built at another park.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40676256

 

[Offended]

In Cucknistan, Gov only ruins your life.

 

[OverCoronavirus Pressure]

Who pays the hospital bills when his unapproved shit collapses?

 

[Thunderflash500]

Who pays the hospital bills when his unapproved shit collapses?

They can use the money they saved.

This is why communism fails. Its theft.

 

[Badger67]

Its not up to code and too small but he made a good point how it can be done for cheap. 65k for steps...lmao fuck outta here

 

[Rational Poster]

Honestly don't see his steps lasting for very long.

People don't seem to understand when you're building something for the public it's supposed to last as long as possible... not just till you die.

Wooden steps aren't going to last very long without any kind of preventative maintenance.

 

[Losfer Words]

Let em build bro

 

[Bald1]

Get it inspected, if it fails scrap it. But yeah, like Rational Poster and Overpressure said, public structures need to be bulletproof.

 

[Pwent]

lol @ anyone who thinks that governments are motivated by efficiency and/or common sense

 

[Curmudgeon]

Its not up to code and too small but he made a good point how it can be done for cheap. 65k for steps...lmao fuck outta here

Yup. Can tell by looking at it. Stringers are to close for tread width, some level issues going on, insufficient hand rail, ect. God I'd hate to see a side profile shot of it, would probably trigger the shit out of me(occupational hazard).

 

[jefferz]

Honestly don't see his steps lasting for very long.

People don't seem to understand when you're build something for the public it's supposed to last as long as possible... not just till you die.

Wooden steps aren't going to last very long without any kind of preventative maintenance.

They could replace the steps every month for the next 10 years for $65k.

 

[dontsnitch]

No wonder houses start at a million around here given that stairs start at 65k.

 

[loyalyolayal]

No way this shit happens in Canada. C$65,000 ($51,500, £40,000)? They are not corrupt. Only third world shitholes pulls those kind of stunts. Obviously fake news. Right @potemkin723 . All hail Canada!

 

[Rational Poster]

They could replace the steps every month for the next 10 years for $65k.

Why not just do it once correctly?

 

[Bald1]

Just saw the pic. A waste of $550, but A for effort old timer.

 

[jefferz]

Why not just do it once correctly?

Why would it cost $65k?

 

[Curmudgeon]

Just saw the pic. A waste of $550, but A for effort old timer.

How does it stack up?

Spoiler

 

[Rational Poster]

Why would it cost $65k?

I'm not sure what they had planned, but I doubt you couldn't get anything meaningful built by a professional contractor for less than 20-30K.

I had a very modest set of cement steps built on my property a few years ago for about 6-7K.

Nowhere near as steep or as many steps. Also nothing I would consider as aesthetically pleasing for a public space that's going to last generations.

 

[Bald1]

How does it stack up?

Spoiler

While I wasn't expecting anything like pictured above, for a bit more cash he could have got something better designed and executed. Or halve his stringer budget in order to put up railings on both sides. That way when the stairs inevitably turn into a sideway seesaw you'll have something to hang on to.

I still admire his initiative. It's the kind of thing my pops would do out of boredom and to get away from my mother.

 

[Curmudgeon]

I'm not sure what they had planned, but I doubt you couldn't get anything meaningful built by a professional contractor for less than 20-30K.

Nope. I do this type of stuff, and it aint cheap.