This week's Throwback Thursday takes us into Downtown Toronto's Entertainment District in 2006, at the intersection of King and Charlotte St. Looking north up Charlotte St, we see the 10-storey Charlotte Lofts at 36 Charlotte dominating the immediate landscape. Opened in Summer of 2002, the project was arguably a rarity in residential development in this district, having added 63 residential condominium units to a vastly quieter neighbourhood than today. Taken a few years before the area began its development boom, this vantage point looks nearly unrecognizable 11 years later. 

King and Charlotte looking north in 2006, image by Edward Skira

Now in 2017, a handful of projects have altered this vista. Beginning on our left-hand side, Great Gulf's Charlie Condos has helped add a strong urban presence to the public realm since it opened in late 2012. Tucked just behind Charlie, Lamb Development Corp's Gläs Condos by architectsAlliance opened three years prior in 2009, rising to a height of 16 storeys. On the east side of Charlotte, Lamb's aA-designed King Charlotte has also had a major impact. The 32 storey tower was completed in late 2015.  

King and Charlotte looking north in 2017, image by Greg Lipinski

This landscape will continue to evolve in the coming years, as two more projects are in the works. Immediately north of Charlotte Lofts, a 46-storey rental tower proposal at 46 Charlotte by Cityzen Development Group and Fortress Real Developments is currently being reviewed by City Planning. In the right foreground, the existing MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op) will move into its new location at 300 Queen West, likely in 2018. In its place, a planned 48-storey development by Plaza will undergo a pre-application consultation next week, with more information linked here

We will return next week with another look at the changing face of Toronto!

Related Companies:  Arcadis, architects—Alliance, Baker Real Estate Incorporated, Bousfields, Broccolini, Cecconi Simone, Diamond Schmitt Architects, EQ Building Performance Inc., Gradient Wind Engineers & Scientists, Great Gulf, II BY IV DESIGN, Isotherm Engineering Ltd., Janet Rosenberg & Studio, Land Art Design Landscape Architects Inc, RJC Engineers, Sweeny &Co Architects Inc., TUCKER HIRISE Construction