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Ad Rates / Articles / Classified Ads / Editorial / Home / Links / Showtime   Toronto landmark market will be demolished   List John Norris Next   North St. Lawrence Market to be replaced   By John Norris Yet another Toronto landmark is facing demolition to make way for the new. On June 7, 2010, Toronto Mayor David Miller announced the design competition for replacing the North St. Lawrence Market at Front and Jarvis - appropriately also the site for the announcement - had been won by Adamson Associates Architects, Toronto, in a “unanimous decision.”   After two days of deliberation, the jurors chose Adamson Associates over four other shortlisted architectural firms because its design “best fulfilled the requirements of the city.”   Spokesperson for Adamson, Claudina Sula, said the winning design is, first, “a response that is sympathetic to the surrounding buildings, urban fabric, existing uses and public functions.”   Second, “the scheme reunifies three separate sites into a cohesive market block.”   Third, and most important, “the design reflects the concept of a covered street that provides both enhanced physical connections and the very important view to the St. Lawrence Hall to the north. In this way, St. Lawrence Hall has a new expanded role and visual prominence from within the building.”   The history of the market area, which was recounted briefly for the press and public June 10 by host and historian Bruce Bell, began in 1803 when Peter Hunter, governor of the then Town of York, proclaimed that all the land north of Front, west of Jarvis, south of King and east of Church be designated as the “Market Block.”   Eventually, the boundaries would incorporate three structures: The St. Lawrence Hall; the South St. Lawrence Market and the North St. Lawrence Market.   The histories of the Hall and South Market pale in comparison to that of the North.   Rife with irony, it's a labyrinth of dead ends and start overs. Built, replaced, destroyed, rebuilt, demolished, rebuilt, demolished, replaced - the North seems doomed to perpetual impermanence.   Indeed, one has to wonder if the North Market is cursed.   Beginning in 1803, across the street from the then Home District Farmer’s Storehouse, the wooden North building, fronting onto King Street, accommodated a permanent “farmer’s market,” eventually enclosed on all sides in 1820. But it was replaced in 1831 with a quadrangular brick structure designed by James Cooper and running from King to Front. It was gutted by fire in 1849 and consequently, in 1851, a new North Market was built on the north-west corner of Front and Jarvis.   This building was demolished in 1900, and a new one erected by 1904, only to be replaced again in 1968 by the current plain, one-storey, rectangular cement building with a very high ceiling.   That city council had decided to demolish the North Market, given its bizarre history, is not entirely surprising. Currently it is being not being used to its full potential and its very presence is money wasted; a liability in a continuing recession.   On Saturdays, Ontario farmers sell their produce. On Sundays, part-time dealers, paying booth space to manger Marlene Cook, who rents the space from the city, sell antiques. Otherwise, from Monday to Friday, the large one-storey space is empty and can be rented, but rarely is.   Consequently, council wanted to erect a new four-storey, multi-purpose facility that could withstand the test of time in both design and efficiency but also preserve the unique heritage and character of the market and its surrounding neighbourhood.”   The farmer’s market and antique market will be retained in a ground floor Market Hall and Toronto Court Services’ court rooms and administrative offices will occupy the upper floors. Moreover, a new 250-space underground parking garage will serve the building, the wider St. Lawrence Market Complex, and the neighbourhood.   Meanwhile, the demolition of the North Market slated for late 2011 - a welcome reprieve for tenants like Barb Griffin, who have been operating their businesses at the market for years.   Construction is to begin in 2012 and completion is planned for 2014. The city will be relocating the two markets to a temporary structure at 125 The Esplanade for up to three years. The site, immediately south of the South Market, is currently used as a parking lot.   One of Marlene Cook’s longtime dealers is Mark Whitely of Hanover.   “I do shows all over Southwest Ontario, and without a doubt, the Sunday market is the best for attendance and weekly performance,” says Whitely. “The energy there is good and, for the most part, the dealers are encouraging and helpful, and the customers very good.”   Moving to the Esplanade for three years alarms him only slightly.   “Any change in retail location can hurt business, but I'm surprised it has not happened before this.”   Joan and Ziggy Ziegler of Enchanting Antiques in St. Catharines have occupied a booth in the southeast corner of the building for the past 14 years.   “The St. Lawrence Market is like stepping back in time, an escape from reality, if just for a while,” said Joan. “Our market building is in need of improvements. We are looking forward to the grand reopening.”   On the other hand, Amedeo (Ahmad) Sazesh, 52, of Toronto, a dealer in antique Persian rugs and kilims, is against the replacement.   “It’s killing the market," he says. "It’s killing the business. If people don't know where the temporary place is, they won't come. They also have difficulty parking, so they stay away. Right now, the market is free to come in. When the new building goes up, if they have to pay to get in, they will stay away.”   Over the years, he's seen changes in the rug business both abroad and in Toronto and says it's becoming harder to buy and import Persian rugs from Iran. He says buyers at the market favour cheaper, more modern-looking gabbehs, a folky rug of plush pile woven mostly by Iran’s once nomadic Qashqai tribe.   Jan Marriott, a Toronto dealer in quilts and textiles, is equally cynical of the move.   “I’ll believe it when I see it,” she said. “They’ve been talking about this move for the past 10 years.”   All types of collectors haunt the market, but not all for the hunt.   Will Harris of Toronto admits the company brings him here. He often joins his senior friends at a table in front of the market café. One of them is George Sachs of Toronto, president of the Postcard Collectors Club.   He's been haunting the market for 10 years.   “For me it's a stress relief. I just do it as something different from my real estate business. I'm interested in books and social history. Once (at the market) I bought a quite valuable book for less than $5. I'm especially interested in railway postcards.”   Two other friends are Stewart and Marian Thompson, who live nearby. Stewart is knowledgeable in Toronto’s history.   “There’s a lot of water under here," he says. "Seven rivers underground flow from the north. Wonder what they'll find when they dig this place up?”   As for the future building, Stewart was bluntly noncommittal.   “I have no feelings about it. (But for now) it's a nice way to spend Sunday morning and I'm able to buy some old books that are out of print." “It’s an interesting place to look around,” said Marian, “I might see something I want to buy, and I come to see Norman (Gordon), a Cochranite. Norm brings me the Cochrane weekly paper.”   Apparently, at the market one day some years ago, she overheard Gordon mention to a dealer he was from Cochrane.   “So am I,” she blurted.   Thus a friendship began that eventually expanded into a regular Sunday ritual, meeting at the café.   Once, Marian sold Gordon, “Canada’s foremost Tim Horton collector,” a peanut butter glass with a picture of Horton on it.   “Very valuable,” she said. “Norm almost lost his supper when he found out I had the glass. I'd paid 39 cents for it in 1962. He paid me $300 for it.”   In addition to Tim Horton material, Gordon collects postcards, Mason memorabilia, coins and bluegrass related material.   He spoke candidly about the market’s replacement.   “I like things the way they are.” Marian agreed. “I’m disappointed. I’ve seen changes here since 1969. You get used to something and you feel at home. I'm not happy to think there's going to be a big commercial building.”   However, on the brighter side: “I’m especially glad we're not going to lose the two markets. That would be sad.”     Return to top of page   This Is Livin' Publishing © 2010 581 8th Line West, RR1 Hastings, ON, K0L 1Y0 Phone/Fax: 705-696-1833   webmaster