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The patchwork of surface parking lots that once blighted Downtown Toronto's urban fabric are now few and far between. Rising land values and a planning policies have spelled the demise of surface parking in the city centre, and most of the remaining lots are facing redevelopment in the near future. This week's Throwback Thursday looks back just over two years, comparing an aerial view of a former surface parking lot at Church and The Esplanade with a recent view of its ongoing redevelopment. Back in June, 2018, the parking lot at the intersection's southwest corner was gearing up for the arrival of heavy machinery to begin construction at 75 on The Esplanade. The east-facing view is from the nearby 25 The Esplanade apartment building which overlooks the site.
Just over two years later, the new 29-storey condominium tower, designed by architectsAlliance for Harhay Developments and Carttera Private Equities, is rising fast towards an eventual height of approximately 100 metres as cladding installation begins on lower levels. Other changes have also happened in the background, with the upper edge of the photo showing slivers of the Sherbourne and Front street sites of St Lawrence Condos at 158 Front and Time and Space Condos.
A GIF helps to visualize the last couple years of change.
We will return next week with another look at the changing face of Toronto. In the meantime, you can submit your own Throwback Thursday comparisons in our dedicated Forum thread for your chance to be featured in next week's edition.
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