This week's Throwback Thursday takes us back 39 months, comparing two very different views of an ongoing change at the intersection of Yonge and Grosvenor streets in Downtown Toronto. In April, 2018, a view facing southeast across Grosvenor Street from just west of Yonge showed ongoing demolition of a three-storey commercial building, part of the site preparation works for the Halo Residences on Yonge condominium development. Spared from the demolition was the 1871-built former Fire Hall No.3's clock tower, which is being incorporated into the base of the new development. In the background, YC Condos was in its later stages of construction.

Looking south across Grosvenor Street, April, 2018, image by Forum contributor Benito

Catching up with the current situation in July, 2021, much has changed beyond the obvious transformation seen in the photo below. Halo is now rising towards a height of 38 storeys with a design by architects—Alliance, though not under the same ownership as when the project commenced in 2018. Developer Cresford's much-publicized financial troubles in 2020 led to a number of their active projects being sold off, including Halo. Acquired by QuadReal Property Group in a sale approved in September, 2020, Halo has been steadily advancing, most recently having its first exterior cladding installed.

Looking south across Grosvenor Street, July, 2021, image by Forum contributor Benito

We will return in a while 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 the next edition.

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