Cranes dotting the downtown skyline are an expected sight in Toronto these days, but in the early 2000s, new construction was nowhere near as common as it has become. While some high-rises were constructed during this period, most construction was on a smaller scale than the towering projects we typically see today. On November 3, 2002, a mid-rise condominium development called Phoebe Lofts had recently topped off in the Queen West area, and there was nothing to block the view of the CN Tower to the south.

Looking south along Soho Street, November 3, 2002, image by Edward Skira

Jumping ahead to September 23, 2015, the long completed loft development is all but obscured by a row of mature trees, and the background reveals a totally different cityscape, now dominated by the high-rise condominium towers of the Entertainment District. The CN Tower, dominant in the 'before' photo, is now largely obscured by the Cinema Tower. A sliver of the Festival Tower is visible to the left and behind Cinema Tower, while Picasso rises over Phoebe Lofts and Tableau can be seen climbing out of the tree on the right.

Looking south along Soho Street, September 23 2015, image by Jack Landau

While the urban forest of skyscrapers has hidden the CN Tower from some angles, Phoebe Lofts isn't quite so hidden by the actual forest if we move to Bulwer Street to get a photo of it from the west.

Completed loft building from Bulwer Street, image by Jack Landau

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