September 8, 2015
Toronto Deputy Mayor Pam McConnell (Ward 28 Toronto Centre-Rosedale) and Dr. Peter Popkin of Golder Associates Ltd., the lead archeologist at the North St. Lawrence Market Redevelopment project site, today announced a discovery of important historical value to the City of Toronto.
During the Stage 2 and 3 archeological assessment of the site, evidence for the 1831, 1851, and 1904 markets were discovered. The finds include foundation piers from the 1831 building, a large arched flagstone sewer relating to either the 1831 or the 1851 development, and the original, pre-development ground surface preserved within the interior courtyard of the 1831 building.
The St. Lawrence Market North property has been the home to a market and market activities since at least 1803, when Lt. Governor Peter Hunter proclaimed that the property was to be home to a public market for the sale of cattle, sheep, poultry and other provisions, goods and merchandise.
"The St. Lawrence North Market revitalization is grounded on the historic importance of this precinct as an economic focal point and gathering place for Torontonians," said Deputy Mayor McConnell. "The unearthing of a rich archeological record on the site will increase our understanding of this history and complement the buildout of a new North Market facility that maximizes its uses and its potential as a destination for residents and tourists."
“The first permanent brick market building was erected on this site in 1831. The north end of the structure served as the Town Hall, and after 1834, the City Hall. The building was subsequently destroyed by the 1849 Toronto fire,” said Dr. Popkin. “While the Stage 2/3 archeological assessment is on-going and final recommendations have not yet been determined, the high potential for in-situ preservation of large areas of the original ground surface and the 1831 sub-surface structures, as well as the exceedingly important historical value of the property to the development of the City of Toronto, makes it likely that further archeological assessment of the property will be required prior to ground disturbance."
In light of the findings, the next step in the North St. Lawrence Market Redevelopment project will be to engage in Stage 4 mitigation of development impacts to ensure the conservation of any structures that are of important historical value. The existing structure must be demolished to allow full site access before Stage 4 mitigation can safely occur. This added step will delay the construction of the new building, but the length of the delay is not yet known as archeological assessments continue.
Phase 1 of the North St. Lawrence Market project concluded in June 2015 with the opening of the temporary North Market building at 125 The Esplanade. Phase 2 will continue with archeological mitigation of the site and Phase 3 will follow with the construction of the building (subject to cost confirmation by the architect and tender approval).
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