Popular view of the CN Tower is about to get blocked by condos

A popular view of the CN Tower that has become a mainstay on tourists' camera rolls will soon be blocked by a condominium development.

The familiar sight of tourists bunching in the bike lanes to snap photos of the CN Tower view from Queen's Quay and York will soon be a thing of the history books, thanks to a 59-storey condominium tower that will soon join the view.

The CN Tower has been framed by the Waterclub Condominiums complex from this angle since those condos were constructed from 2003-2005. And though this view birthed by condo towers has grown quite popular over the past 21 years, it is ultimately going to be another condo development that kills the beloved vista.

The new Q Tower from Lifetime Developments is now under construction, and within roughly a year, the Wallman Architects-designed building should begin to sprout from the corner of Lower Simcoe and Lake Shore and close out this popular CN Tower view. 

In a bit of a double-whammy, the Q Tower is replacing a former parking garage that was itself known for breathtaking city views.

And for those of you thinking "who cares?" right now, you just might be surprised by how polarizing a topic it is.

A Reddit thread shared last week highlights the divide between residents lamenting the loss of the view and others shrugging it off as just another part of life in the city. The post has already garnered more than 160 comments as locals debate the significance.

We're going to lose this great view of the CN Tower at the harbourfront.
by u/itsonlykotsy in toronto

Following the demolition of the parking garage, Lifetime Developments broke ground on the new project this past February — a rare condo start in today's gutted market.

Lifetime Developments/Wallman Architects

Though construction progress is currently still below street level, Q Tower will eventually rise just over 197 metres tall.