Metrolinx has bought two-thirds of the 90 full properties needed to build Hamilton's planned LRT — but demolition of the long-empty buildings will now wait until spring.

An update for city councillors on the $1-billion light rail transit project says Metrolinx has now spent $162 million on the project and committed another $22 million to ongoing work.

About half that total was spent on land and buildings along the 14-kilometre route from McMaster University and Eastgate Square. Demolition was expected to start this fall on the growing inventory of empty, plywood-covered buildings lining the King-Main corridor.

But city LRT director Kris Jacobson said the knock-down effort has now been put off until spring 2020.

"It's a priority, for us as well as Metrolinx," he said ahead of a LRT update meeting Wednesday at city hall. "But our understanding now is that they are working on procurement for a contractor to start that work next year."

Some resident have questioned the demolition delay over concerns about crime at the empty buildings.

Metrolinx community relations director Jamie Robinson earlier told The Spectator early demolitions will likely focus on "higher-risk properties" susceptible to trespassing issues.

In the meantime, negotiations continue over 30 additional full buildings that need to be purchased — as well as 300 small parcel or slivers of land needed along the corridor.

If needed, expropriations will begin within the next six months.

Councillors had also asked Metrolinx to attend Wednesday's meeting, in part to answer questions about how a potential budget overrun would be handled.

The Spectator obtained political briefing notes earlier this year that showed the province already believes the project to be over budget.

The Tory provincial government has said it will not pay more than the original $1 billion promised in 2015.

But the federal Liberal government has indicated it is open to considering a request for top-up cash, according to Mayor Fred Eisenberger.

Robinson said Metrolinx will not comment on prospective LRT budget changes while design-build consortiums are actively working on competitive bids to do the project.

Those bids are supposed to be submitted in spring 2020. Ideally, a contract would be awarded late next year.

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