It was the end of an era in south Etobicoke yesterday as the last of what was once a thriving tourist destination made way for Toronto's condo boom. This section of what was known as Highway 2 and the main thoroughfare leading into the city was home to numerous family-owned businesses, specifically a long strip of motels along the shore of Lake Ontario. From its heyday during the postwar boom until the Gardiner Expressway was built in 1966, the area was a destination for travellers passing through. With the diversion of the traffic onto Toronto's then-brand-new expressway, the area began to suffer. Some of the motels became less family-oriented and leaned towards renting rooms by the hour. Yesterday marked the demolition of the last remaining motel as it makes way for Eau du Soleil by Empire Communities, a 66- and 44-storey condo complex. Below are some photos of the demolition of the Beach Motel.

Beach Motel demolition about to start, image by Craig White

Beach Motel Demolition Underway, image by Craig White

Beach Motel Demolition Continues, image By Craig White

Beach Motel Demolition continues, image by Craig White

Paul Golini Jr. of Empire Communities, image by Craig White


Beach Motel coming down soon, image by Craig White

City Councillor Mark Grimes holds a brick from the Beach Motel, image by Craig White

Eau Du Soleil is just the latest project in an explosion of development on this section of Lake Shore Boulevard over the past decade. Projects like Empire's Beyond the Sea, Onni's Westlake, Amexon's South Beach, Monarch's Lago, Waterscapes, Nautilus, Conservatory Group's Waterways, Phantom's Jade Waterfront and Times Group's Key West. Below is a view to where the future Eau Du Soleil will rise.

Eau du Soleil site, to the right of the top of the Beyond the Sea shadow, image by Craig White

Below is an image of what to expect when this EI Richmond Architects and Zeidler Partnership Architects-designed building is completed.

Rendering of Eau Du Soleil, image courtesy of Empire Communites

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Related Companies:  Amexon Development Corporation, BDP Quadrangle, Dream Unlimited, Ferris + Associates Inc., Graziani + Corazza Architects, II BY IV DESIGN, Jablonsky, Ast and Partners, Mattamy Homes, MCW Consultants Ltd, Milborne Group, NEEZO Studios, Quest Window Systems, Rebar Enterprises Inc, Sigmund Soudack & Associates, Urban Art & Metal Works Inc., Zeidler Architecture