Looking west towards 696 Yonge St and St Mary St, in the Bay-Cloverhill Toronto neighbourhood.
The archive photo shows when the Church of Scientology of Toronto and The Brother’s Restaurant occupied the building.
Over the years, the building has housed the offices of various companies, including several insurance and investment firms. It was later listed as the Diamond Building in the Toronto City Directory. In 1979, the Church of Scientology purchased the building for its headquarters in Toronto. However, the organization closed the building in 2013.
In 2016, 696 Yonge St, which was built in the International architectural style, was listed on the city’s heritage register as part of the Historic Yonge Street Heritage Conservation District.
Then and Now
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: 696 Yonge St
- Toronto Star Newspaper Archives: Jan 25, 2013, pg GT3
- Photo: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photo: City of Toronto Archives
- City of Toronto: Maps
- Toronto City Directory courtesy of Toronto Public Library
