Parking garage known for breathtaking Toronto skyline view about to be demolished

A downtown Toronto parking garage known by local photographers and social media influencers for its quintessential vantages of the Toronto skyline is presently undergoing demolition, soon to be no more.

As residents were gearing up for the holidays in mid-December, the City was issuing the requisite permits for the teardown of Impark lot 153, which has long housed over 1,200 spaces across multiple floors at 200 Queens Quay West.

Close to sights like the CN Tower, Scotiabank Arena, Rogers Centre, Harbourfront Centre, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and more, the lot was a boon for suburban drivers hitting up the city’s most popular attractions — and also for the countless people who were aware of the stunning views found on its open top floor.

Rising seven storeys above ground, the parkade’s uppermost level was somewhat of a hidden gem for photo and video ops, with residents of adjacent condo buildings able to spot groups using it as such and taking advantage of the perfectly-framed CN Tower to the structure’s northwest on any given day. 

But, the prime location in its current iteration was destined to be short-lived amid the rapidly changing face of the city and the ongoing, ever-more-urgent push for more housing, and fast.

It was revealed in 2019 that the 1.24-acre site at the corner of Harbour Street and Lower Simcoe would be redeveloped, with DiamondCorp and Lifetime Developments eventually stepping in to acquire the property from Canada Lands Company, and submitting an application with the City in 2020.

While security has been on site in various capacities since 2022 — when guards were first dispatched to keep the top level off-limits to sight-seers — the block has since been completely fenced off.

As of the first week of January, the defunct parking garage has been fenced off and draped in Priestly Demolition signage. Photo by Sarah Peslar.

As of this week, Priestly Demolition signage has appeared around the site, with the lot’s final end apparently very quickly approaching.

A spokesperson from Lifetime Developments confirmed to blogTO via email on Wednesday that demolition work has officially kicked off, though they were unable to comment on what phase the project is in.

“More details and timing on construction are to come shortly,” they said.

Rendering of what will replace the parking garage from Lifetime Developments and DiamondCorp.

The latest plans for the site, from mid-2022, show that a 58-storey mixed-use affordable rental and condo building named Q Tower is slated to take over the parkade’s place.

It will bring 954 new homes to the Harbourfront neighbourhood, along with four levels of underground parking and 2,385 square metres of amenities, including a ground-level daycare and some retail space.