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With the impending construction of a new rapid transit line for Toronto, the Province is looking to redevelop the site of Ontario's first parliament buildings, located where an Ontario Line station is planned along Front Street between the St Lawrence Market and the Distillery District. The site is comprised of multiple properties, including 265-271 Front Street East, 25 Berkeley Street, and the northern portion of 44 Parliament Street. A principle-based Master Plan — meant to give unambiguous direction to future designers of individual projects to help realize the plan’s vision while allowing the flexibility for future design teams to respond to evolving circumstances — came before City Council on November 9, where it was adopted without amendment.
Currently home to a Green P parking lot, a car wash, and a car rental business, the site is the former home of Upper Canada’s first purpose-built parliamentary buildings, which were completed in 1797. The buildings were destroyed by American forces in 1813 during the War of 1812. They were then reconstructed on the site in 1820, only to burn down in 1824. After that, parliament never returned to the site.
The site was subject to City-led planning and community engagement over the last several years to develop a 20-year Master Plan that was subsequently adopted by the City. In May, 2021, City Council adopted the King-Parliament Secondary Plan Review, which identified the site as a Public Realm Big Move. This identified the area as a place for public realm expansion, heritage interpretation, and enhanced connectivity with adjacent sites. The north portion of 44 Parliament Street, currently operating as a surface parking lot, was also rezoned, designating the site as Parks.
Planning strategies that are part of the adopted plan include the creation of a Parliament Square public plaza, a Lakeshore Park, a connection to David Crombie Park, a strong presence on Front Street, creating a 'great' Parliament Street, extending the pedestrian/cyclist realm on The Esplanade, and the development of appropriately scaled buildings that directly relate to streets and open spaces via multiple entrances.
Recommendations for the new buildings included in the plan are affordable housing, Indigenous services, food security options, and community recreation. The site is also planned be home to a new library after City Council, in 2013, gave approval for a relocated St Lawrence branch on the site. The plan notes the library should be built in the northwest quadrant of the site, facing Front Street, and should be located in the base of a larger, multi-tenant building that would include the secondary entrance to the future Corktown station that is part of the planned Ontario Line.
Most recently, the Province expropriated the land from the City, and has started planning — possibly in partnership with developers, which, if any are actually working with the Province, have not been made public — for multiple towers on the site that could stand 46-storeys tall, surrounded by others that would be used for office and retail space, both north and south of Front Street.
If the Province allows the City-led plan to prevail, there will be no condominiums on the site, as the report notes that given the importance of the First Parliament site as a publicly-owned asset, private residential and major commercial developments should not be considered. Rental apartments would be built in their place.
A demonstration plan was included as part of the City's Master Plan. Its purpose is to be a roadmap — not a definitive project design — and leaves wiggle room in order to adapt to future circumstances including funding, political will, or evolving community priorities.
According to the City's demonstration plan, the open-space focus of the site would be 'Parliament Square.' It would be designed to accommodate a range of outdoor activities such as individual socializing, library programs, and community and cultural events. Recent preliminary archeological investigations concluded that the greatest potential for archaeological assets related to the previous buildings on the site exist in a rectangular section in the middle of the site, under what would be the square. Following a thorough investigation, the square would be developed using low-impact construction to protect what may be underground and preserve any remaining archaeological resources for future generations.
In that vein, more extensive archeological investigations are progressing onsite under a large tent that has been erected in order to protect the dig site. The tent covers the south end of the car wash building, and a large portion of the parking lot. An excavator is being employed inside.
Early maps of the area indicate that the 'Home District Gaol' was built on the former First Parliament site between 1837 and 1840. It was used until replaced by the Don Jail in 1860 and torn down in 1887. Most finds at the site are expected to be related to the early jail.
A combination plaza and green space, dubbed 'Lakeshore Park,' is located just south of Parliament Square in the demonstration plan. It includes a water feature as well as a turn table stage to be used for both formal and informal outdoor cultural events. It would link the First Parliament site with the adjacent David Crombie Park.
As the Master Plan notes that the Front Street Frontage is to be developed as the primary address of the First Parliament site, the demonstration plan shows buildings that are set back to create a generous promenade with public amenities and decorative plantings. Buildings are also to be set back along Parliament Street to provide space for a double row of shade trees and a broad sidewalk.
The City's demonstration plan also has the pedestrian/cyclist Esplanade adjacent to David Crombie Park extending across the First Parliament site to Parliament Street to create a connection between the St Lawrence neighbourhood and the Distillery District.
The plan also calls for the development of Berkeley Street as a pedestrian-priority corridor dubbed 'Berkeley Place,' that could on occasion be transformed into a car-free, open-air venue for celebrations and cultural events. Metrolinx has indicated the intention to use the site to support construction of the Ontario Line for the next several years, but it is unknown to what extent the site will be altered during that work. In addition, current plans say the site will be owned and controlled by the Province after the Ontario Line’s completion.
You can learn more from our Database file for the project, linked below. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
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