The Toronto of the 1990s doesn't seem like such a distant place at first thought, but the more you consider the sweeping changes the city has undergone over the last three decades, the more it seems bizarre that there were so few condos and so many undeveloped industrial sites.

There was an unfinished feel to this Toronto. You could ride a bike around places like Liberty Village, the Eastern Waterfront, and the Junction and feel like time moved very slowly.

Here's a look back at Toronto intersections before the ubiquity of condo podiums, big box retail, and the near-total elimination of our inner city industry.

Queen and Spadina, looking east. Photo by David Wilson.

Queen and Spadina

Yes, there were still PCC streetcars in service on Toronto streets in the 1990s. Here we're looking east along a much quieter Queen Street at Spadina Avenue.

Queen and Bathurst, looking southeast. Photo by the Toronto Archives.

Queen and Bathurst

Oh, the Big Bop. Before it was a furniture store targeted toward condo owners, this building at the southeast corner of Queen and Bathurst was a raucous live music venue.

Yonge, Davenport, and Church, looking north. Photo from the Toronto Archives.

Yonge and Davenport/Church

The view up Yonge Street at Church/Davenport hasn't changed that much—yet. But, it's right on the cusp of the trendy and bustling Yorkville neighbourhood. 

Inside the Distillery District. Photo from the Toronto Archives. 

Trinity and Mill

Before the Distillery District was born and became the tourist destination it is today, the old Gooderham & Worts site was used regularly as a film set.

King and Strachan. Photo from the Toronto Archives. 

King and Strachan

See that old warehouse-style building on the right side of the frame? That's been replaced by a modern glass building and the vista in the distance is starting to fill with condos.

The area that would go on to become the intersection of East Liberty and Lynn Williams. Photo from the Toronto Archives. 

East Liberty and Lynn Williams

Neither of these streets existed in the 1990s, when Liberty Village was still somewhat industrial and only starting to draw in production companies. 

Front and Parliament. Photo from the Toronto Archives.

Parliament and Front

The old Consumers Gas Building at Front and Parliaments streets looked ready for the wrecking ball until it was restored as a Police Station. 

A streetcar and taxi on King Street at Bay. Photo by David Wilson.

King and Bay

This view of the Financial District at King and Bay streets doesn't look that different, but where's all the traffic? 

Yonge and Balmoral Ave. Photo from the Toronto Archives. 

Yonge and Balmoral

Pretty much everything in the foreground of this photo at Yonge Street and Balmoral Avenue has changed.

Queen's Quay on the Toronto waterfront. Photo from the Toronto Archives.

Yonge and Queens Quay

Look at that! Not only does Captain John's look pretty good in this photo at Yonge Street and Queens Quay, but there's not a condo in sight.