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Demolition is well under way on the second last of Regent Park's noted Peter Dickinson-designed high-rise apartment towers. As Toronto is typically too intensely developed to allow for implosions, a careful teardown of the 1958 modernist structure at 605 Whiteside Place is occuring, with the removal of much of the building's north facade happing on a suite-by-suite basis. New photos of the site by Vik Pahwa help to narrate the demolition process.
The removal of the building's outer north wall has revealed a thought-provoking view into the empty shells of the tower's apartment units, which still retain the bright coats of paint, and in some cases, the decorations of their former tenants. While we see a whole lot of demolition activity across the city, it is shots like these that serve as a reminder of the countless people who have made this building their home during the past five and a half decades.
Demolition of the 14-storey public housing tower is being carried out by ProGreen Demolition, the same company in charge of the recent teardown of nearby 42 Blevins Place, as well as the ongoing demolition of the modernist Inn on the Park at Leslie and Eglinton. The only other remaining Dickinson-designed tower still untouched in Regent Park, 14 Blevins Place, is located a short distance to the south from 605 Whiteside Place. The building has recently been emptied of its tenants and is also slated for demolition this year, as part of the third phase in Toronto Community Housing and The Daniels Corporation's ongoing revitalization of Regent Park.
Want to get involved in the discussion about the revitalization of Regent Park? We have Forum threads covering each of the three phases. You will find the Phase 1 thread here, Phase 2 here, and Phase 3 here. You can also get involved by leaving a comment in the space provided at the bottom of this page.
Vik Pahwa is a Toronto-based urban photographer. View more of his work here.
