St. Lawrence is bordered east to west between Yonge St. and Parliament St. and north to south between Front St. and the Canadian National Railway Embankment. Characteristic of this neighborhood are the historic buildings like the iconic Gooderham Building, also known as the Flatiron for its unique wedge shape, the luxury King Edward Hotel, the elaborate St. James Cathedral designed in Gothic Revival style, and of course the ever-popular and frequently visited St. Lawrence Market. The community is also a socioeconomically inclusive and culturally diverse neighborhood, making it a welcoming and friendly neighborhood to both visit and live.

History

Constructed in 1834, Toronto’s first City Hall was located in what we know today as the St. Lawrence Market, and it was this neighborhood that saw the city’s first streetcar network and even its first jail, surprisingly located at the now pristine King Edward hotel. The Esplanade, south of Front Street, was once the City’s central waterfront path, however, much of the landscape has changed with the infilling of land along a portion of the harbour from the 1850’s to the 1950’s, pushing back the lake’s edge.

Built just south of The Esplanade, the accessibility of the railway led to the heavy industrialization of the area, but when industry moved beyond the city, the neighborhood became a wasteland until the 1970’s when the neighborhood was revitalized with a new housing plan that is still widely deemed as a model of successful urban planning & renewal.

A lively setting to be sure, St. Lawrence is always buzzing with the busy travel of locals and visiting tourists. The Esplanade’s David Crombie Park spanning between two major destinations: the St. Lawrence market and The Distillery District, is now seeing a revitalization that began in 2018, with attractive gardens, picnic areas, a central all-ages social swing circle, water play for children, a dog park, a basketball court and soccer field. Along this same road is also the St. Lawrence Community Recreation Centre which provides indoor facilities such as a swimming pool, fitness room and squash court. The west side of the St. Lawrence market along The Esplanade to Yonge St. has a completely different vibe adding to the excitement of the area. Lined with restaurants, pubs and the live performance venue Meridian hall, there’s always a new experience to enjoy. The focus of St. Lawrence is undoubtedly the St. Lawrence Market for its historical significance and its incredibly diverse produce selection – ranked the best food market in the world by National Geographic. A popular attraction hosted by the St. Lawrence Market is “Arts at the Market,” where visitors can purchase unique handmade goods from talented local artisans, and the “Market Kitchen” is also a top fascination offering weekly culinary lessons guided by professional chefs for a memorable cook-and-dine experience. Berczy Park along Front St. has its own special charm as the community greenspace between Church St. and Scott St. and is a highly photographed area thanks to the famous Flatiron building. No doubt,

Many of the buildings in this neighborhood compliment the design style of St. Lawrence’s most celebrated historical architecture. A great number of properties are red or cream brick, featuring arched openings and black accents – reminiscent of The St. Lawrence Market, The Gooderham Building and The St. Lawrence Hall. In dynamic contrast, the towers along the Esplanade that are designed with the walker’s sightline in mind, matching the first few floors of its exterior design to the neighborhood scheme. Remaining industrial warehouses from the 1800’s close to the St. Lawrence Market, have been converted into stunning hard lofts that are characterised by interior brick walls, soaring ceilings and rustic beams along with all the required modern renovations. There are also midrise townhomes and buildings, making this neighborhood rich in architectural variety, while maintaining a unified street presence. A mix of housing options from subsidized, to market rent, to ownership exist in St. Lawrence, and is therefore an opportune area for individuals with different levels of income.