News Release
August 31, 2016
Demolition of North St. Lawrence Market set to begin next week
The demolition and archeological assessment of Toronto's North St. Lawrence Market will start next week, marking an important step in the redevelopment project.
"The current North St. Lawrence Market is underutilized and does not maximize the full potential of the St. Lawrence Market Complex," said Deputy Mayor Pam McConnell (Ward 28 Toronto Centre-Rosedale). "The redevelopment will create a landmark destination within the St. Lawrence neighbourhood and enhance one of the top-ranked farmers markets in the world."
Work has been underway at the North St. Lawrence Market building since July to prepare for the structural demolition. The demolition and archeological assessment will take about six months to complete, and could be extended if further artifacts or structures of historical value or interest are discovered once the building is demolished.
Following demolition, construction of the North St. Lawrence Market is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2017 and will open to the public in 2019.
The temporary market, located at 125 The Esplanade, continues to operate every weekend with the Saturday farmers market and Sunday antique market.
The new five-storey building, which will expand from a weekend market to a seven-day operation, will include a farmers market and commercial event space, space for hospitality use, a demonstration kitchen, a kitchen incubator, a seniors' resource centre and court services, as well as an underground parking garage with 250 spaces on four levels.
The St. Lawrence Market Complex, made up of St. Lawrence Hall, the South Market and the North Market building, has served as a Toronto landmark for more than 200 years and remains one of the most valuable historical sites in Toronto.
