Iconic Toronto water tower taken down to make way for mega-development

A water tower that has been present for almost three-quarters of a century is being taken down, marking the last step in the controversial demolition of an iconic industrial facility along Toronto's Don River.

The water tower is the latest casualty to come down at the former Lever Brothers soap factory site, which is being razed in advance of Cadillac Fairview's East Harbour colossal East Harbour development.

Constructed in 1951 alongside the Lever factory, the water tower was the last remaining vestige of the former industrial use of the site following the facility's demolition. According to an environmental assessment of the site conducted prior to demolition, the water tower has not been in use since 2009.

The teardown of the main facility wrapped up earlier this year despite extensive efforts and grassroots campaigns seeking to preserve and incorporate parts of the factory into the new development planned for this site. 

The tower was all that remained following this demolition, leaving some hope that the structure would be saved.

However, this was not to be.

Removal of the water tower. Photo by Fareen Karim.

Rather than demolition, the water tower is in the process of being disassembled by crews with the help of mobile cranes. 

Crews on lifts working on removal of the water tower. Photo by Fareen Karim.

The water tower's top section was removed on Monday evening, leaving just the legs of the structure standing by sunrise on Tuesday.

Crews on lifts working on removal of the water tower. Photo by Fareen Karim.

The structure's demise will free up more space for the game-changing new development planned for this site, which will feature a mix of residential and commercial space at the meeting point of multiple transit lines.

The water tower removal will free up space for the future redevelopment. Photo by Fareen Karim.

The enormous development will span 45 acres on the former Lever site, centred around a new multimodal transit hub that will include the forthcoming East Harbour stations on the Ontario Line subway, and GO Transit's Lakeshore East and Stouffville lines.

Once all is said and done, approximately 4,300 residential units, including affordable housing, will populate these lands, along with several commercial towers and over 3.5 acres of new park and open space.