Though it would probably be the first time most readers have heard of this project. As long as they get the details of the story right can’t fault legacy media for being slow.
I've put that rendering along with two others into the database file. One of them, you'll see is fairly hilariously cheap, without even an attempt to remove some of the steel structure under the old pedestrian bridge over Queen that was related to the streetcar wires, while the other—now in the front spot—does show the latest version of the heritage facade restoration. (You can compare that with the initial rendering in spot number 4.)
Thanks for the update - it has inspired me to check and see if there is Conservation Plan posted on the AIC, and there is. Of note is that the masonry on the fifth floor is failing structurally and the entire floor will be removed completely and rebuilt.
In this poorly-lit picture you can see that 2 Queen West is completely shrouded right now. Also, a big portion of the ground-floor wall along Yonge St is knocked out and the interior of the building is gutted.
Interesting, and probably most likely for 2 Queen West.
However - my recollection of the background details when the Eaton Centre was being built - in two stages - footings, foundations and support columns were put in place for a potential four towers. The first two built, at the time of the original construction of the respective phases of the centre, were the tower at the north end of the Eaton Centre, 1 Dundas West, and the CF Tower on Queen Street. The third tower to be built, 250 Yonge Street came later, quite a while after the shopping mall was opened, and was built on top of the existing parking garage, with the front entrance being carved out of the existing retail space backing on Yonge Street.
My understanding is that the fourth set of footings and support columns, for the fourth and final office tower, were built at the south end of the Yonge Street parkade - which would make it at the approximate location of this crane base.
Anyone with more insight as to what is happening here - or knowledge of the original building design and construction in this part of the complex?