St. Lawrence Homes & Real Estate Toronto

For generations of Torontonians, “St. Lawrence” has been synonymous with “market”.... but few today know that the thriving St. Lawrence Market’s south building incorporates Toronto’s original City Hall, municipal offices and main police station (complete with jail cells), built in 1850.

Fewer still know that the present-day St. Lawrence neighbourhood was created by a massive landfill project in the early 1800s, with the intent of providing a lakefront promenade.... or that the original settlement of Muddy York was immediately to the north.

Even less well known is the fact that the area bordered by Yonge and Parliament Streets, and by Front Street and the CN railway embankment, was the industrial hub of Toronto until the late 1940s — going into steep decline when industry moved to the city’s outskirts.

In the 1970’s, Mayor David Crombie was the driving force behind the decision to rejuvenate the area as a residential neighbourhood. With input from renowned urban expert Jane Jacobs, and designs by a number of accomplished Toronto architects, the redevelopment was an acclaimed success story and still provides a model for new neighbourhood planning across North America.

Characterized by red brick exteriors, the harmonious mix includes private and non-profit housing, luxury condos, lofts, and rental buildings. The Esplanade, running east from Yonge Street, forms the shopping and dining core of the neighbourhood, with many appealing specialty stores, restaurants, cafés and bars, and a number of upscale hotels, while the famous Market provides residents with fresh produce within walking distance.

For recreation, residents of St. Lawrence homes have David Crombie Park, off the Esplanade... the St. Lawrence Community Recreation Centre... and the Market Gallery, located in the old Council Room on the second floor of the Market, where themed exhibitions display the culture and history of the city.

For current information on available listings for St. Lawrence homes and real estate, please see the column at the right of this page. Listings are updated daily, so we recommend that you bookmark this page and check back frequently.