Astl, a former mechanic, decided to build the staircase himself (with the help of a homeless man) and it only cost him $550. The project only took 14 hours, and everyone was thrilled!
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You would think that the city would be thrilled to have the safety issue resolved, but no, because the stairs were not up to code, they had to be torn down!
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Toronto mayor, John Tory, contacted Astl shortly after the stairs were torn down to thank him for his work and to let him know that the city had gotten another estimate for a new set of stairs for $10,000.
In a statement to the media, Tory complemented Astl for his work and said the DIY stairs sent a clear message to the city staff! Share away, people.