St. Lawrence Library Relocation & Expansion

Overview

Toronto Centre is getting a library that truly fits the community — bigger, better, and built to last. I have been a driving force in getting this project across the finish line so that our community can enjoy the best multifunctional District Library experience.

The Toronto Public Library has purchased the building at 339 Queen Street East, at the south-west corner of Queen Street and Parliament Street, to serve as the new home of the St. Lawrence branch. The new location is designed to serve the St. Lawrence, Moss Park, and Corktown communities — some of the fastest-growing neighbourhoods in the city.

The difference in size tells the whole story. The current branch at 171 Front Street East operates in just 4,800 square feet — a space that has always been too small and has faced repeated closures due to flooding from the building above. The new location at 339 Queen Street East will be 30,000 square feet — more than six times larger.

That extra space means so much more for residents:

Larger book and resource collections
Open longer hours
Better access to computers and technology
Spaces for individual and group work
Programming and event spaces
A dedicated early literacy centre for young children
Dedicated spaces for youth
A digital innovation and fabrication studio — one of only two in the entire city

This is a real upgrade for a community that has long deserved better library services.

Background

Plans to relocate the St. Lawrence Branch date back many years. Before the province expropriated the First Parliament lands for the future Ontario Line station, the City intended to build a new space there. Subsequently, the City-owned land south of the St. Lawrence Market was explored for a library and affordable housing, but the relatively small size of the site raised concerns about costs.

Following discussions with the owner of 339 Queen Street East, City staff began exploring the potential for the St. Lawrence Branch to relocate there. Aside from preserving and readapting an existing heritage building for municipal use, the costs were deemed to be substantially lower and more beneficial for the surrounding communities in the future to come.

The total purchase price for the building at 339 Queen Street East was over $30 million, paid for through the Toronto Public Library’s Capital Budget.

On top of that, my office released an additional $3-million in community benefits — funds collected from developers and reinvested back into the neighbourhood — to make this branch truly exceptional. That $3-million will go toward:

Enhanced library programming space
Virtual interview rooms
A digital innovation hub and fabrication studio — one of only two in all of Toronto
Additional capital improvements to the entire library space

The project is well underway. Here's what the road to opening looks like:

Spring/Summer of 2025 - City Acquired the Property
Summer of 2025 - City Council Approval
Winter of 2025 – Beginning of 2026: Hiring architectural consultants
Beginning of 2026 – Spring of 2026: Community consultations and design work
Summer of 2026Q3 – Winter of 2026: Construction documents and permits
Winter of 2026 – Beginning of 2027: Hiring a general contractor
Beginning of 2027 – Winter of 2028: Construction and Capital Improvements
Winter of 2028: Final installation and branch opening

The current St. Lawrence branch at 171 Front Street East will remain open throughout the entire construction period. This is to ensure residents won't lose access to library services while the new location is being prepared.

Project ID: TPL-133

Council Approved!