Written by: Lawrence Mosselson (VP, Retail Advisory) & Rami Kozman (Director, Landlord Services)

While much attention has been paid to the King West and Liberty Village neighbourhoods in recent years, it’s important to highlight why the St. Lawrence neighbourhood is so special and why your business would benefit from taking a serious look at what’s happening in this area.

St. Lawrence refers to the area bounded by Yonge Street to the west, Queen Street to the north, Parliament Street to the east and the CN rail tracks to the south, and encompasses the original Town of York, the oldest part of Toronto, as well as the first parliament buildings in Upper Canada, built in 1793.

The first and most obvious thing to talk about is the vintage St. Lawrence Market itself, which is a global mecca for foodies. The market is made up of the south and north market buildings, as well as the historic St. Lawrence Hall at King and Jarvis Streets.

The market has been operating in various forms since 1814 and was named the World’s Best Food Market by National Geographic in 2012. The market continues to offer residents and visitors to the neighbourhood an unparalleled selection of fresh vegetables, exotic fruits, farmer-friendly meats, gourmet cheeses and other amazing products from around the world. Toronto’s vibrant multiculturalism is alive and thriving at the bustling St. Lawrence Market.

The north market building, currently under construction and slated for completion in 2021, will be a landmark building designed by the world-famous architectural firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, following an extensive international design competition. This building will bring additional underground public parking, a revitalized ground floor farmers’ market and City-occupied office space to the area.

The recent revitalization of Berczy Park has provided the area with a new outdoor community hub, as well as providing a welcome area of respite for the neighbouring office workers. The central feature of the park is a water fountain designed by world renowned landscape architect Claude Cormier, featuring cast-iron statues of dogs and cats, which has become a Toronto landmark and tourist attraction.

In addition to the market and the park, the neighbourhood offers some of the most historically significant architecture in the city. Victorian and Georgian era industrial and commercial buildings with fascinating history are interspersed with the area’s many up and coming modern residential buildings. These additions continue to enhance the neighbourhood by contributing both cutting edge architecture and a new vibrancy to the area.    

A number of residential condominiums have recently been completed, with a significant number of new units currently under construction. Combined with contemporary new office buildings, including the Great Gulf developments along Front Street and Adelaide Street, the daytime and resident population in the area is poised to explode.

Along with great institutions such as George Brown College, the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, and a vibrant community centre, the neighbourhood offers its residents an unrivaled selection of dining, cultural, and shopping experiences, all within a few minutes walk of Yonge Street and the financial core.

In addition, the proximity of the area to the Distillery District, the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Scotiabank Arena, along with well-known hotels including the grand King Edward Hotel, contributes towards the constant influx of tourists in the neighbourhood.

The Behar Group is fortunate to be part of the evolution of the St. Lawrence neighbourhood. We are thrilled to be able to bring to market a number of sensational opportunities in the area, including space available now, and currently under construction. Come and be part of the burgeoning St. Lawrence community while prices are still flexible and accessible.  Contact us today for more information.