Shining the Spotlight on the History of St. Lawrence

Every city is composed of layers - each one visible in the nooks and crannies of each neighbourhood. Looking carefully you can spot a historic building or a street name that hints at the many hats a particular neighbourhood has worn throughout its history. The St. Lawrence Market is one of Toronto’s oldest neighbourhoods, dating back to 1793 when the city was still referred to as the Town of York. Today this neighbourhood is known for the flatiron building, the farmer’s market, and St. Lawrence Hall. However, the neighbourhood was also once home to Toronto’s first City Hall, functioned as a thriving industrial centre, and served as the subject of a large-scale urban renewal project. Peeling back each layer, it is possible to see how this pocket of Toronto has flourished into one of the city’s most beautiful and successful neighbourhoods.

North Market - 1850 - via torontopubliclibrary.ca

1800s: The city’s first civic centre

Once located below the waterline, the neighbourhood now referred to as St. Lawrence was infilled in the early 1800s to extend Toronto’s port. Originally intended to serve as a large public promenade with a grand esplanade along the waterfront, the city released the land to the railways, attracting industry to the area. It was at this time that St. Lawrence ward became the official home of Upper Canada’s first Parliament, located on the southwest corner of what is now Parliament and Front Street. The buildings were long forgotten until a discovery in 2000 uncovered remnants of the building and pottery from the period.

In 1803, Governor Peter Hunter officially declared that the new land north of Front, west of Jarvis, south of King, and east of Church Street would be known as Market Block. Then the first farmer’s market, a large wooden structure, was constructed on the north end of the block. This structure would eventually be replaced by a large brick building in 1831, and in 1834 the local civic government moved in, bringing politics back to the Market.

North Market before alterations - 1898 - via torontopubliclibrary.ca

Between 1834 and 1844, Toronto’s population exploded, tripling in just one decade. The extra tax revenue was used to build a new City Hall on the site of today’s South Market building. By 1845, City Council had moved in and was meeting in the Council Chambers located on the second floor of the Market building. The local police station took residence on the first floor, and kept several jail cells in the building’s basement. Those looking for a glimpse of the neighbourhood’s history can spot remnants of this original building, including archways and the original roofline, in the present-day South Market.

The building stood until 1849 when the Great Fire of Toronto destroyed the brick structure, along with most of the city. As Toronto slowly rebuilt, the city began putting together plans to build the St. Lawrence Hall that still stands today. This is when the market buildings were renamed the St. Lawrence buildings after Canada’s patron saint.

North Market exterior in the middle of alterations - 1898 - via torontopubliclibrary.ca

Early 1900s: Industrial transition

In 1899, the City Council left the South Market building and moved to a new location, and the neighbourhood transitioned into a bustling industrial centre. The St. Lawrence Market building stood at the heart of the social, industrial, and civic character of the neighbourhood. Though the building underwent several renovations, it remained a hub for public meetings, concerts, lectures, and exhibitions. The facade of the building was altered, shops were added, and the police station moved to 550 Gerrard Street East after prisoners in the basement complained about flooding. The buildings continued to take shape with further alterations and a new North Market building appeared at the end of the St. Lawrence Hall. By the 1940s, Toronto’s industrial base moved outside of the city, and the neighbourhood prepared for yet another identity.

South Market - 1954 - via torontopubliclibrary.ca

Late 1900s: A critically acclaimed urban renewal

The 1960s saw a decline in industrial activity. The ward was inhabited by abandoned and derelict buildings, and mayor David Crombie decided to turn the area into a residential neighbourhood. His goal was to avoid the mistakes of former “urban renewal” housing projects and integrate a mix of commercial and residential properties into the region. Alan Littlewood carefully planned the new chapter of this neighbourhood under the influence of revolutionary urban theorist Jane Jacobs. The development was carried out over the course of several decades and has been proclaimed a major success in urban planning, even serving as a model for urban communities across North America.

Market Street - the latest addition of new retail and restaurants in the neighbourhood

By 1967, the third floor of the St. Lawrence Market was restored as part of Toronto’s Centennial project, and it became home to the Great Hall, East Room, and VIP lounge - all of which continue to exist. One year later, the North Market was demolished and replaced with the present-day building. The building was nearly lost in 1971 when a proposal emerged calling for the demolition of the market. However, the community rallied together and a group of Torontonians proposed that the historic building be renovated. By 1974 renovations were underway thanks to a Federal-Provincial Winter Capital Projects Fund, and the building was completed in 1978. The basement was gutted and became available for retail, a freight elevator was installed, and merchants were made responsible for the design and construction of their own shops.

2000s: The neighbourhood’s next chapter

Today, the St. Lawrence Market is continuing to develop. Though large parts of the neighbourhood were cleared away to create parking lots in the 1970s and 1980s, the area has quickly regained its residential character and attracted several new condominium projects; the L Tower by Castlepoint, Cityzen, and Fernbrook recently completed construction, and their Backstage condo next door is quickly on the rise. Sixty Colborne by Freed Developments is another condo that recently started construction. As new residents and businesses move into the St. Lawrence area, they will undoubtedly add yet another layer to the neighbourhood’s long history.

Feature image via Torontopubliclibrary.ca