St. Lawrence Neighbourhood: All grown up

Industrial Brownfields

In the post-war era, the waterfront was primarily reserved for industrial activities. By the 1970s, major industries had relocated further east. The land around the St. Lawrence Market was primarily used for garages, civic yards, and parking (Dennis, 1979). The inner city was also beginning to become more desirable for high earners who had largely retreated to the suburbs (White, 2016). The City had experienced challenges with large public housing projects and revitalizations and was ready to look towards more innovative developments. With a new federal funding model available, the City of Toronto acquired the lands of the St. Lawrence neighbourhood and began planning for the new area (Dennis, 1979).

Photo: Wilton Street looking East

Jane Jacob's Influence

Jane Jacobs, the revolutionary urbanist, was an advocate for lively streets, short blocks, and human-sized planning. Jane’s main ideas are beautifully captured in the tribute prepared by James Gulliver Hancock (2016). Although Jane Jacobs has was not formally involved in the development of St. Lawrence, many say that her presence in Toronto provided leaders with the confidence to pursue such an innovative project (White, 2016). Her ideas were integral to the success of the neighbourhood.

St. Michael's and TDSB Alternative Schools

The  15-minute city  has become a popular tenet of urbanists in recent years and it echos many of Jane Jacob’s ideas. The most prominent advocate for the 15-minute city is the Mayor of Paris, who postulates that our six basic social functions of “living, working, supplying, caring, learning, and enjoying” should be met closer to home to increase the well-being of citizens and allow for more engagement in their communities (Reimer, 2021; DeSandoli, 2021). One of the biggest early successes of this project was the inclusion of schools in mixed-use buildings, which was unprecedented in Canada, allowing for learning to take place closer to home (Dennis, 1979).

As we continue, take stock of how many elements of a 15-minute city can be seen along the route.

David Crombie Arch

The St. Lawrence neighbourhood development was a political exercise as much as it was a planning innovation. Toronto had long been feeling pressure on its rental housing. Mayor David Crombie and Planning Commissioner Michael Dennis, along with many other city staff, councillors and consultants, propelled this project along quickly. The team brought the neighbourhood from early planning in 1974, through financing, design and tendering in just four years. Construction had already begun by 1978 (Amborski, 1980). 

Community Garden

The planners of St. Lawrence wanted the area to be flexible to the changing needs of its residents. Things like this community garden represent the organic community that forms when the urban form allows for it. Spending time with nature has major benefits for human well-being (for example, Capaldi et al., 2015), which have been emphasized during the COVID-19 pandemic (Samuelsson, 2020). Having outdoor natural space to socialize and interact with the community, like this garden space, can combat isolation and reduce stress (Sturm & Cohen, 2014).

Dog Park

The baseball diamond at David Crombie Park is nearly never used for sports, but throughout the day dog owners gather and make great use of the space. Much like the community garden, having access to flexible public spaces can contribute to well-being and fosters a sense of community (Sturm & Cohen, 2014; Capaldi et al., 2015; Maas, 2006). Having high-quality green spaces near your home is also associated with better physical and mental health (Sturm & Cohen, 2014).

Housing and Income Diversity

Along this street, you can see many townhomes tucked away in quiet streets. There is a variety of housing options available within the neighbourhood, some with street access and others in mid-rise buildings. The graphic above compares some demographic statistics for the neighbourhood. There is considerable diversity in income and housing tenure compared to the city average, and many households have been living in their home for over five years.

The planners of St. Lawrence intended for the neighbourhood to be diverse and suitable for a wide range of lifestyles. While this is certainly true, the neighbourhood is quite uniform in language and immigration status. Compared to the city as a whole, there are fewer immigrants and people who speak a non-official first language. There are also fewer people who identify as a visible minority compared to the city average. 

*All statistics from Statistics Canada 2016 Census Profiles (Statistics Canada, 2017)

Basketball Courts

The basketball courts are a very popular amenity within the Esplanade park system. During the school day, Market Lane school uses the area for recess and play. During the evening, the courts serve as an informal meeting place, meaning that the courts are in use for nearly the entire day. This is a great example of Jane Jacob’s “sidewalk ballet” (1961) that creates lively, happy, and diverse streets. The act of sharing spaces like the basketball courts and playgrounds (Chaskin and Joseph, 2013) exemplifies the shared sense of place that the residents of St. Lawrence share, and is integral to the success of a mixed-income neighbourhood.