Toronto's most unique neighbourhood, Kensington Market retains its charm and wonderful diversity through its eclectic mix of vintage clothing stores, Latin American grocers, fresh produce, cafes and watering holes. Defiantly independent and progressive, Kensington hosts street festivals like Pedestrian Sundays in the Summer months and December's annual Festival of Lights. Often overlooked but not to be missed is the stretch of Nassau street between Augusta and Bellevue.
The History of Kensington Market
George Taylor Denison, after serving in the Canadian Militia during the War of 1812, purchased an area of land in 1815 from Queen Street West to Bloor Street, roughly between where Augusta and Lippincott Streets now run. Denison used the area now known as Bellevue Square Park as a parade ground for his volunteer cavalry troop, which he commanded during the Upper Canada Rebellion. This troop later became the Governor General's Horse Guards.
The Denison estate was subdivided in the 1850s. During the 1880s, houses were built on small plots for Irish and Scottish immigrant labourers coming to Toronto; much of the housing is in the style of Victorian architecture row houses, which are moderate in size and display true Victorian architecture. Many of these houses still stand along Wales Avenue and elsewhere, and these homes have been inhabited by many waves of immigrants in the decades that followed. Housing found closer to the market area tends to feature retail at the front of the house.
During the early twentieth century, Kensington became populated by eastern European Jewish immigrants and some Italians, who occupied "The Ward", an overcrowded immigrant-reception area between Yonge Street and University Avenue. It became a cluster of densely packed houses and was one of the poorer areas of the city.
The area became known as "the Jewish Market". Jewish merchants operated small shops as tailors, furriers and bakers. Around 60,000 Jews lived in and around Kensington Market during the 1920s and 1930s, worshipping at over 30 local synagogues. From the beginning, the market sold items imported from the homelands of many immigrant communities.
After World War II
After the Second World War, most of the Jewish population moved north to neighbourhoods uptown or in the suburbs. During the 1950s, a large number of immigrants from the Azores, fleeing political conflict, moved into the area and further west along Dundas Street. The arrival of new waves of immigrants from the Caribbean and East Asia changed the community, making it even more diverse as the century wore on. The Vietnam War brought a number of American political refugees to the neighbourhood, and particularly to nearby Baldwin Village, adding a unique utopian flavour to local politics. As Chinatown is located just east of Kensington, the Chinese are now the largest ethnic group. During the 1980s and 1990s, identifiable groups of immigrants came from Central America, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Iran, Vietnam, Chile and other global trouble spots.
In the 1960s there were plans to tear down the densely packed small houses and replace them with large, apartment-style housing projects, as was done to neighbouring Alexandra Park. These plans came to an end with the election of David Crombie as Mayor of Toronto. Crombie was strongly opposed to the massive urban restructuring plans that had been in vogue in previous decades.
Kensington Market Today
The market resisted the recession of the 1980s partially thanks to a floating population of students attending George Brown College, which was where the Kensington Lofts are today. George Brown College sold the property in the mid-1990s and without the extra student traffic, many stores were victims of the recession of the mid to late 90s. In addition, many Portuguese store owners were by that time too old to continue working their small shops, which led to abundant vacancy and invited a new wave of immigrant entrepreneurs. A growing wave of Latin American immigrants came to Kensington Market and opened the door to offering ethnic street foods.
All this movement lead to a rebirth of Augusta Avenue, however, there were seedy spots whose patrons scared away the fiercest yuppies. Some mainstream stores tried to open locations in Kensington Market, but they were rejected by the community. Eventually, businesses (both too seedy and too mainstream) transformed or moved out.
Today the neighbourhood is a noted tourist attraction, and a centre of Toronto's cultural life as artists and writers moved into the area. Land prices in the area have increased sharply, but despite its increased appeal to professionals, Kensington remains a predominantly working-class, immigrant community.
Kensington is protected by a variety of policies, mainly to enhance the atmosphere that is unique to the neighbourhood. In November 2006, Kensington Market was proclaimed a National Historic Site of Canada. Toronto's "Official Plan", which is the vision for the city until 2026, does not designate much change for the neighbourhood as seen in its land use map for the neighbourhood. With no major change, one can assume that Kensington is very much a stable neighbourhood.
In addition to the Official Plan, Kensington is subject to "Site and Area Specific Policy." The policies which relate to proposed developments state, "Any public or private developments and work should be consistent with the special characteristics of the area. " The new developments must adhere to these guidelines which include:
low-scale buildings with retail at grade (street level);
minimal setbacks;
open-air display of goods on the boulevard.
Through city policy, the Kensington uniqueness will be upheld for all to enjoy.
Kensington Market Real Estate
Tiny Victorian homes are the staple of the area, many of which can be hard to locate because they are behind the storefronts that have been built out in front of them. A number of these tiny houses have renovated so the house entrances are at the back of the house. The laneway access offers a quieter, peaceful option from the constant market traffic that is there morning to night.
There has been limited development in the area in the last few years, and the few condo developments have gone up outside the Bathurst, Dundas, Spadina and College Street borders. These condos have opened up some buying opportunity here. Kensington Market Lofts is one of the few great options in the heart of it all. Turnover is rare in the Market Lofts, and despite the relatively small size of many of the area’s homes, the uptick in the demand has had just as strong an impact if not more on home prices in Kensington as it has anywhere else.
Kensington Market is also a somewhat popular area with real estate investors. The demand for student-appropriate housing here is strong given the location is so close to both OCAD and the University of Toronto. Many older homes have been converted to multi-residential use.
Looking for the best of Kensington Market?
Parks
Schools
Please click here for a comprehensive list of schools in Kensington Market..
Restaurants
Grey Gardens: Long list of wines & a seafood-heavy menu of small plates and mains served in a relaxed setting.
Veggie D’Light: Small, informal eatery at Kensington Market offering a limited menu of vegan Caribbean specialties.
.Rasta Pasta: Stylish counter serve doling out Jamaican eats such as jerk chicken & pasta with a Caribbean twist.
Cafés
Café Pamenar: Trendy coffee drinks and small snacks are available at this intimate, buzzing hot spot.
.FIKA Cafe: Art adorned, Sweden-inspired spot featuring pastries & ready-made sandwiches, plus a back garden.
Moonbeam Coffee Company: Homey spot for espresso drinks made from house-roasted beans, plus snacks and over 30 loose-leaf teas.