As high-rise condominiums continue to populate downtown Toronto, surface parking lots are on the verge of extinction. In the not-too-distant past, our downtown was littered with surface parking lots, most of which have been replaced by new developments. On the northwest corner of Adelaide and Church, Context Development's SPIRE Condos brings a distinct urban presence to the intersection, but 10 years ago this site was little more than a dusty parking lot. Let's turn the clock back to September 5, 2004 for a look at the site as it appeared before shovels hit the ground.

SPIRE site as seen on September 5, 2004, image by Edward Skira

Skipping ahead to July 31, 2014, the completed 45-storey condominium tower by architectsAlliance stands tall over the Adelaide and Church intersection.

SPIRE site as seen on July 31, 2014, image by Jack Landau

Below, we compare two more angles of the site seen on September 5th, 2004 and July 31, 2014. Here it is from the northeast:

SPIRE site as seen on September 5th, 2004, image by Edward Skira

SPIRE site as seen on July 31, 2014, image by Jack Landau

And here it is viewed from the east side of Church Street:

SPIRE site as seen on September 5, 2004, image by Edward Skira

SPIRE site as seen on July 31, 2014, image by Jack Landau

And just for good measure, here is a bonus shot of the completed tower above:

SPIRE as seen on July 31, 2014, image by Jack Landau

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