Most Canadians living outside of Toronto are familiar with Bay Street, through its use as a metonym for the country's economy. North of Queen Street, Bay has recently taken on a different character with a number of high-rise residential towers completed during the last decade. Back in 2007, the view north on Bay from Queen Street included the recently completed first tower of Canderel's Residences of College Park (ROCP), while the crane for the south tower could be made out, just rising above another rooftop.

View north on Bay Street from just north of Queen Street, 2007, image by Marcus Mitanis

9 years later, the image below shows lots of development over that time.

View north on Bay Street from just north of Queen Street, 2016, image by Jack Landau

On the east side of Bay, the second Graziani + Corazza Architects-designed ROCP condominium tower has long since been completed north of Gerrard. Behind it, and forming the bulk of the wall on the horizon, the 52-storey main tower of the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences can be seen. Designed by architectsAlliance, this development at the corner of Bay and Yorkville opened its doors in 2012.

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