Liberty Village has parlayed its tech cred and industrial roots into a hot spot for burgeoning Web 2.0 start-ups, film and television production companies and a growing residential community settling into former factories turned lofts. Soccer and ultimate Frisbee teams come to play at Lamport Stadium while avid rock climbers tackle the walls at Joe Rockheads. The revitalized Liberty Market Building is quickly becoming a local landmark, home to a growing mix of restaurants and shops.
The History of Liberty Village
In the 1850s, both the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway and the Great Western Railway laid tracks across the community, cutting it off from rest of the city and altering plans to develop the area for residential purposes. Instead, Liberty Village became home to several institutions, including the Toronto Central Prison, opened in 1873, and the Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women (on the site of today’s Lamport Stadium), opened in 1878 for women convicted of "vagrancy", "incorrigibility", or "sexual precociousness." Provincial Secretary William John Hanna forced the closure of Central Prison in 1915, and all its buildings were demolished except for the paint shop and chapel. "Liberty Street", for which Liberty Village is named, was the first street both male and female convicts would walk once freed.
The area's proximity to the railway tracks led to its growth as an industrial area. In 1884, John Inglis and Company opened a factory to manufacture heavy machinery, boilers, and later, electrical appliances. Inglis' success led to its expansion onto Central Prison lands. In 1891, Massey-Harris (later Massey Ferguson) built a factory to produce agricultural implements. Other companies that established in the late 19th century included Toronto Carpet Manufacturing, St. David’s Wine, and Ontario Wind Engine and Pump.
Bombs were stored on Liberty Street, looking east from Dufferin Street, during the World War I. Industry flourished in the area during the early 20th century.
Industry continued to flourish during the early 20th century due to the area's excellent railway access and many spur lines, as well as a plentiful labour supply from nearby Parkdale. Many of the factories produced armaments, bombs, and weapons during both world wars, and much of the soil pollution in the area dates from those periods.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, manufacturing operations within Liberty Village began to decline due to a shift from rail to road shipping, the need for larger manufacturing facilities and lower manufacturing costs in suburban or offshore locations. In 1990, the Toronto Carpet Manufacturing plant on Liberty Street shut down, and the Inglis plant ceased operations in 1991. The Inglis factory and Massey-Harris factory (with the exception of 947 King St. West) were demolished. Decreased industrial activity and lower property values caused many Liberty Village buildings to fall into neglect.
Industrial buildings began being re-purposed for other uses. Along with other areas of Toronto, Liberty Village experienced a wave of gentrification in the early 21st century.
The Liberty Village Business Improvement Area (BIA) was founded in 2001 and represents over 600 member businesses that together employ more than 10,000 people. Partly because of this, Liberty Village has experienced growth from 2004 to the present in terms of new condos/lofts, office space, a new park, and new shops and restaurants.
The ongoing gentrification of downtown Toronto has been pushing farther outwards from downtown, encouraging rapid development. Liberty Village has become a trendy neighbourhood for young professionals and artists pushing farther west for less established areas, while still remaining a short walk or streetcar ride from the core. Many old factories have been repurposed as lofts while others have become restaurants, gyms, furniture stores and galleries, as this area was primarily a former heavy industrial area.
Landmark Building
CENTRAL PRISON
From 1873 to 1915 Liberty Village was home to Central Prison, also known as Toronto Central Prison. Keeping to Liberty Village’s roots in industrialism – the prison acted as an industrial facility where prisoners would work while incarcerated – with the intention of making money for the prison and a form rehabilitation for the prisoners. While most of the grounds are now townhouses – the Central Prison’s Roman Catholic chapel remains intact on East Liberty St. and is listed as a heritage property.
1915 Liberty Street
The corner of North corner of Liberty Street and Dufferin Street was a very different place in 1916 – what is now a parking lot was once the site of the Russel Motorcar Company. The company manufactured fuses for bomb shells during World War I. Many of the 4,000 employees were women. Fun fact: The factory operated 24/7!
The Toronto Carpet Factory
The Toronto Carpet Factory is currently where many Liberty Village based businesses, restaurants, and cafes are located. The building still features many of the original architectural features. The building was originally built between 1899 and 1920 by the Hayes family. This English Industrial style building was where The Barrymore brothers manufactured woven carpets, converting the looms to make coats and blankets for soldiers in World War I and II. The brothers also manufactured furniture at 77 Mowat Avenue.
The ‘Castle’
135 Liberty Street was once the production facility for the famous ‘Magic’ Baking Powder brand, which was produced by E.W. Gillett Company. Up until 1912 the corner was also home to Diamond Park, a large covered stadium for the Eastern Baseball League, a professional league at the time. This corner is now an office building for a variety of businesses. Liberty Village continues to be home base to professional sports teams, at Lamport Stadium.
Snooker Street
99 Atlantic Avenue and 38 Hanna Avenue, originally built in 1890 of post and beam construction was purchased by The Brunswick Bakle Collender Company – the company manufactured floors for bowling alleys and later ventured into manufacturing billiards tables, cues, and balls after acquiring the Samuel May Company in 1910. When the Academy of Spherical Arts restaurant, took over the building in 1991, the street was renamed Snooker St. to pay homage to the past. The building is now being rebuilt to create additional retail and office space.
The Liberty Market
What is now The Liberty Market (est. 2003) – a mix of restaurants, retail businesses, and services – was once owned by John Inglis and Sons. The company operated a flour mill from 1881 to 1902. In 1902 the company became a machinery business – manufacturing marine steam engines and waterworks pumping engines. In 1904 American, Major J.E Hahn purchased the company and used the site to manufacture the Bren Light Machine Gun – used during World War II. Post war the company manufactured consumer products including fishing tackle, house trailers, oil burner pumps and domestic heaters and stoves. Between 1946 and 1981 John Inglis Co. Ltd. took over and began manufacturing appliances for the company Nineteen Hundred Corporation now known as Whirlpool. The company moved to Mississauga in 1981.
Hanna Avenue
Until 1962 41 Hanna Avenue was the head office of Hinde & Dauch Paper Mill – the company produced cardboard boxes. In 1962 Domtar Corporation, also a paper mill took over the site – the company is now one of the largest integrated producers of uncoated free-sheet paper in North America. Next door, 43 Hanna Avenue, was the head office of Irwin Toys, the Irwins was a manufacturing and marketing company for leisure products including toys and sporting goods. Both buildings have been transformed in condominiums and lofts. Toy Factory Lofts at 43 Hanna developed by Lanterra Developments won the 2005 Greater Toronto Home Builders’ Association award for Condominium project of the year.
Liberty Village Real Estate
The majority of Liberty Village is made up of condos. There are some townhouses to be found in the area along with some rare purpose-built live/workspaces.
Liberty Village is host to some really beautiful, low maintenance, lifestyle-friendly living. All those abandoned factories have provided the canvas for some of the chicest commercial and residential buildings in the city. Lofts - both hard and soft - as well as more typical condos have been built at a rapid pace over the last few years, and have largely been occupied by a mix of buyers and renters who generally prefer to walk/cycle/transit over driving, dogs to children, and convenience over space. While it has been a very popular neighbourhood for a while, some of its popularity is starting to wane as residents have started to find it a bit congested for their taste.
Looking for the best of Liberty Village?
Parks
Schools
Please click here for a comprehensive list of schools in Liberty Village.
Restaurants
Mildred’s Temple Kitchen: The open kitchen of this relaxed, modern spot serves international fare & brunch on weekends.
School: Chic eatery with industrial décor and two patios, serving creative brunch, lunch & dinner, plus drinks.
Caffino: Charming ex-factory space with two dining areas and a patio, serving Italian fare amid eclectic décor.
Cafés
Liberty Village Market and Café: Unfussy market and café outlet offering breakfast and lunch sandwiches, soups and coffee drinks.
Louie Craft Coffee: Minimalist coffee shop with exposed-brick walls and menu of artisanal java, tea, salads and sandwiches.
Balzac’s: Hot and iced drinks plus baked goods in a former toy factory with soaring ceilings and windows.