Snapshot - Queen Street, west of Yonge

Location: Queen Street, looking west from Yonge
Date photo taken: 21 December 2018

This short stretch of Queen Street West is seeing its fair share of changes lately. In addition to the dramatic new skybridge which opened in 2017 replacing the original one installed back in 1979, this image includes glimpses of two very different renovation projects. In the centre background is the 33-storey building formerly known as the Simpson Tower. Designed by John B. Parkin, a firm often referred to as legendary for its modernist designs, it was completed in 1969. The update has removed the original bronze-tinted glazing and thick concrete bands that ringed the building, updating the look along with the energy efficiency of the building and removing a distinctive piece of history from the city's skyline. 

In the right foreground of the picture is the construction scaffolding surrounding 2 Queen Street West, which is a very different renovation story. This building, which has been covered whole or in part by cladding since the 1960s is now being restored back to its 1885 glory. For more detail and some great pictures, check out this article.

Snapshot - Richmond St. West of Sherbourne

Location: north side of Richmond St., west of Sherbourne

Date photo taken: 29 April 2015

Image 3 in the Snapshot Series

I love this strip of Richmond with its row of red brick warehouses. The neighbourhood around it is undergoing major change, but somehow this small stretch has managed to survive.

Snapshot - Front & Jarvis

Location: Northwest corner of Front and Jarvis
Date photo taken: 30 January 2017

This big open space at the corner of Front and Jarvis used to be the home of the North St. Lawrence Market and the mural that was featured last September. In the 2015 the market was relocated to a temporary structure a few blocks south on Jarvis and an archaeological assessment of the site was undertaken. This location was designated as an official market area back in 1803 and market buildings have existed on this site since 1820 so it's not surprising that the field survey found something. The amount of evidence found on site has prompted a stage 4 archaeological review which in this case means that the entire site will be excavated prior to construction beginning. If you've ever been curious about urban archaeology, you can watch some of the progress through the fence, plus the Market Gallery, located across the street in the St. Lawrence Market, is currently hosting an exhibit called "Unearthing Toronto's Oldest Marketplace". It's free to visit and on until March 18th.

Snapshot - The Esplanade

Location: Looking west from the park at Princess and The Esplanade
Date photo taken: 19 May 2016
Image 4 in the Snapshot Series

The Esplanade runs through the heart of the St. Lawrence neighbourhood, a planned community built during the 1970s and considered one of the most successful inner city redevelopments in Canada. It's a mixed-income community with low-rent and subsidized rental options sitting side by side with market-priced condos and townhomes. David Crombie Park, the jewel of the neighbourhood, runs for 6 blocks down the centre of the development offering recreation options and lots of garden space.

The white pillars seen in the foreground of this picture are part of an art installation called Patchwork Village. It was created by Jamii, a not-for-profit based in The Esplanade, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the neighbourhood. It will be in place until June 27, as part of the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival.

Snapshot - Yonge Street

Location: West side of Yonge Street, north of Grosvenor

Date photo taken: 13 April 2015

Image 3 in the Snapshot Series

Businesses along this stretch include Holco Sales, Gallery Hi Art, 401 Games, Kenzo Japanese Noodle House, INS Market, St. Louis Wings and the now empty Sobey's Express at the corner of Breadalbane. The tall building under construction in the background is the 45 storey FIVE Condos tower at St. Joseph St. just west of Yonge. Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, the tower incorporates the facade of the designated heritage building at its base.

Snapshot - Queen Street East

Location: North side of Queen Street East, at Hamilton Street 

Date photo taken: 21 December 2014

Image 2 in the Snapshot Series

This Snapshot shows the north side of Queen Street just west of Broadview. This short stretch is in for some changes. The windows of the building on the left are papered over, the tenant Dark Horse Espresso having moved to the new Streetcar sales centre just down the street. The Broadview Hotel, the building at the right with the peaked roof, which until recently operated as Jilly's strip club, has been purchased by Streetcar and is currently undergoing renovations. What exactly it will become has not yet been announced but the company assures those in the community that this historic building is in good hands. And finally, the streetcars on Queen Street are set to be replaced by the new sleek models, but not until 2016/2017.

Snapshot - King & Sherbourne

Location: Southeast corner of King & Sherbourne, taken from the northwest corner
Date photo taken: 3 September 2014
Image 1 in the Snapshot Series

As regular readers of this blog will know, I'm just as fascinated by how this city is changing as I am about the neat stuff you find in it. Often while walking I'll see a new building and find myself wondering what was there before. My memory can be short. Sometimes I'll take note of fantastic streetscapes and wonder how they will change in the coming years. Long ago I started to take pictures of pieces of the city, bits of streetscapes and storefronts, corner views and vacant lots. I'm going to start posting a few of them here as Snapshots. I anticipate many won't include text beyond date and location.

In this Snapshot, the King and Sherbourne facades of the designated heritage building at 251 King St. E. are being preserved to add character to the 17 storey boutique condominium being built on the site. The building, which dates from the mid-1800s, was for many years the National Hotel.