The St. Lawrence Neighbourhood is immediately east of Toronto's downtown business district (east of Union Station).
The site was created from landfill in the early 1800's. It was intended to serve as a public promenade with a grand Esplanade along the waterfront. The city turned the land over to the railways, which in turn attracted industry to the area.
The St. Lawrence Neighbourhood is in the lower right of this photo.
In 1899 Toronto's Front Street City Hall was altered almost beyond recognition in order to provide the City with a much larger market. It was saved from demolition in the mid-1970s and was renovated in 1977-78. www.stlawrencemarket.com
Inside St. Lawrence Market.
Jarvis St. looking north; the market building is on the left (westside) and the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood begins on the right (eastside).
Census information about the St. Lawrence area, 1981 to 2006. No one lived in the area in 1971.
Grid street pattern was introduced, with most park space consoladated into a central linear park.
Housing density site plan. Medium density was located alone the central park and the major through streets.
St. Lawrence Neighbourhood, 44 acres (18 hectares) east of the St. Lawrence Market, between Jarvis St. Parliament St, south of Front St.
Southwest section of the neighbourhood, with 10 to 12 story buildings on the north side, facing the park, and townhouses with small backyards behind.
Northwest section of the neighbourhood, with 10 to 12 storey residential buildings on the south side and along the major north-south roads, with townhouses behind.
Southwest section of the neighbourhood; 10 to 12 storey buildings at the north along the park; townhouses behind, all on streets with small private backyards.
Northwest section of the neighbourhood, with undeveloped sites to the east and existing buildings to the west. The community centre and a school face the park.
Looking south from the St. Lawrence Market, at the elevated main rail line and expressway. The neighbourhood begins with the mixed-use building at the left.
The central park, named after the mayor who initiated the redevelopment, runs the length of the neighbourhood, with a mix of open spaces and different recreational uses.
Housing units in St. Lawrence
Open Space in St. Lawrence
2003 City of Toronto study: Lessons from St. Lawrence for the Regent Park Redevelopment Process. As an example of a recently developed, mixed-use, mixed-income, inner city Toronto community St. Lawrence provides valuable lessons for Regent Park revitalization. www.regentpark.ca/urbanplanning.htm
From 2003 report: Lessons from St Lawrence for the Regent Park Redevelopment Process
