If there is any area in Toronto that has continually undergone rapid worldly changes in the past two centuries, it’s Liberty Village. The area is defined by King Street West to the north, Strachan Avenue to the east, the Gardiner Expressway at the south, and Dufferin Street to the west. The area’s proximity to the main lines of the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National (formerly Grand Trunk) Railways made it home to a wide assortment of industries. From the mid 1800s to the present, the Liberty Village area has produced auto and machinery parts, clothing, furniture, farming supplies, lifestyle products, and even war oriented goods. All the factories supplied jobs for thousands of people, especially for the inmates who occupied the two prisons in the area.
The Central Prison, often called the Strachan Avenue Prison because of its location, was built in 1880. The inmates were not only incarcerated, but also put to work in many of the surrounding factories. The prison did not last long, for it was closed in 1911.
The Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women was more successful. It opened in 1872, and it was the first women’s prison in Canada. The women of Andrew Mercer Reformatory played a great role during both World Wars. While the majority of men were at war, the women inmates were prime employees for the numerous factories in the area which were manufacturing war supplies. The Andrew Reformatory for Women was condemned in 1969, demolished, and is now the site where Lamport Stadium stands.
The prisons were separated by a single street, later named “Liberty” street, for it was the first road the prisoners would walk after their sentences were complete.
One of the first companies to manufacture war supplies was Russell Motorcar Company. Their factory was located just north of Liberty Street on Dufferin. They manufactured fuses for bomb shells for use in World War I. 4,000 people were employed and most of them were women. The site is now a parking lot.
Another factory to supply goods for war efforts was located at 37 Hanna Avenue and 171 East Liberty Street. The factory was built in 1881 and was owned by the Inglis Company. They manufactured machinery for grist and flour mills, and later marine steam engines and waterworks pumping. In 1904, Major J.E. Hahn purchased the company and used the factory to manufacture the Bren Light Machine Gun for World War II. During this time, the factory employed more than 17,800 people. In 2003, Lifetime Urban Development Group purchased the factory for retail and commercial use, and it is now called the Liberty Market Building.
Many of the old industrial buildings have been repurposed for commercial, retail, office, and residential space. One of the companies responsible for defining Liberty Village as an art district is Artscape. In 1991, Artscape purchased the building at 60 Atlantic Avenue, which was originally built as a winery for St. David’s Wine Growers. They acquired the building in order to establish it as their head office and to house 44 art studios.
Another building which has been converted for our modern use is the old Irwin Toy factory at 43 Hanna Avenue. Lanterra Developments acquired the building and transformed it into the Toy Factory Lofts, a residential complex which won the 2005 Greater Toronto Home Builders’ Association award for condominium project of the year.
Liberty Village is one of the hottest districts in Toronto at the moment, and it is only flourishing. The area is now home to dozens of restaurants, trendy boutiques, independent cafes, and numerous residential complexes. The development of art studios has made the area a place for emerging artists to congregate, work, and grow. Thankfully, builders have respected the industrial history of the area and used the factory spaces to their advantage. The new condominiums, lofts, and office and commercial spaces in Liberty Village are known for their artful design, high ceilings, concrete columns, large windows, and exposed brick.
Although the Liberty Village area is already recognized and established as an artist community, it has not ceased to grow. The Canalfa Group has three condominium projects in the works; Liberty Towers at 59 East Liberty Street, and Liberty on the Park at 69 Lynn Williams Street are both under construction and scheduled for completion by 2012. Canalfa’s third project, Liberty Central, is in preconstruction at 51 East Liberty Street, and is scheduled for completion by 2015.
Lifetime Developments and BLVD Developments also have a condominium project which is underway at East Liberty Street and Hanna Avenue. The complex is called Liberty Market Lofts and is scheduled for completion by 2012.
The Tower at Liberty Village is a PlazaCorp Development which is in preconstruction at 125 Western Battery Road. This condominium development is also scheduled for completion by 2012.
Liberty Village has transformed significantly over the past 200 years. It is a product of the Industrial Revolution, it has aided the fighting of both World Wars, it is now a locale where artists can convene and create, and the unique residential areas will be expanding very quickly over the next decade. You can be a part of this historically rich district in Toronto by looking into any of the new developments that are currently in the works.
