Antons Kapostins is living in the Ajax home he helped build on 13 acres of farmland 50 years ago.

But it isn’t the 89-year-old’s home any more.

The Ministry of Transportation says it has owned the roughly half acre the house sits on since March 2011. That’s when the ministry expropriated a piece of the property to make room for the first phase of Highway 407 East construction.

But don’t try telling Kapostins he has to leave. He wants to spend his last days in the home he and his wife Gaida, 87, raised three sons after moving from Latvia.

“I am old enough to die but I would like to finish my last days here, in this house,” he said, his eyes tearing up, as he thumbed through letters at his dining room table from the ministry dating back to 2010.

The ministry says it has made repeated buyout offers, based on three independent property appraisals, for the land that's needed to reconstruct an interchange at Lake Ridge Road and Highway 401. It’s the last of 342 properties needed for the first phase of construction.

But Kapostins says he thinks the government is undervaluing the land.

Now with construction set to begin next spring time is running out.

A warrant has been issued directing the local sheriff, a provincial official that executes court orders, to aid the Ministry of Transportation, ministry spokesman Bob Nichols said in an email.

Nichols said the acquisition of land is similar to other major highway developments. Of the hundreds of other properties needed, he said the “vast majority” were acquired “amicably.”

Nichols would not say how much the ministry offered for the property, citing privacy concerns, other than to say it was based on market value. But Kapostins' son, Andy, said one offer was about $400,000 for the expropriated land and $15,000 per acre for the rest of the property, which would become trapped by the highway.

“(My parents) bought it, they built the house, they've got a lot of sentimental value in it,” said Andy Kapostins, adding his family has recently sought a lawyer’s advice. “And they don't want to part with it, not at the price they're being offered.”

Kapostins said he's not happy with the offer either. “I have no sign (saying) for sale, but if they need it for a highway, I will sell. But I won't give it away for nothing,” he said, adding he thinks the value is millions of dollars.

Jason Britton, a realtor who sold property on the same road a few years ago, said between $500,000 and $600,000 would be a reasonable price for the home and land.

Regardless of money, Kapostins and Gaida, want to stay in the bungalow on the land they purchased in 1962 for $4,300.

Over the years, they raised cattle there and grew produce including tomatoes, said Kapostins, who also worked at a nearby factory for almost three decades.

It's unclear when or how Kapostins could be forced out. “We're committed to helping the owners through this process,” Nichols said when asked about eviction. “We know this is a difficult time for the family.”

Kapostins said he recently told the ministry he wouldn't “go without a fight” and some time after, police arrived at his home. They seized registered firearms belonging to his two sons, who are living with him, Kapostins said.

The ministry referred questions about the firearms to police. Durham Regional Police Service spokesman Dave Selby confirmed officers were made aware of a “potential public safety concern” by provincial officials and executed a public safety warrant. He said “numerous guns and ammunition” were seized on Sept. 27, all of which was legally owned and stored, and will be returned.

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While Kapostins remains on Lake Ridge Rd., he said he doesn't like being treated like a “criminal.”

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