Plans for Kingston’s Old Prison Include Indoor Food Market

[ad_1]The owners of the old Prison for Women (P4W) have updated their plans for the historic cellblock to feature a year-round indoor food market. Rendering via Siderius Developments Ltd.The owners of the old Prison for Women (P4W) are presenting a fresh concept for the historic building.Due to a decline in the housing market, they've decided to move away from their initial plan of turning the century-old cellblock into luxury condominiums.Now, they aim to convert part of the structure into Kingston’s first indoor food market, called Union Park Market, inspired by famous markets found in downtown Ottawa and Toronto.This proposed artisan food market would operate throughout the year with about 32 permanent vendor stalls on the main floor of the cellblock, covering approximately 11,500 square feet.“A single business could take one stall or several. Stalls would be built out by their tenants as small permanent shops, each with its own look, rather than as temporary tables,” according to a news release from Siderius Developments Ltd., which owns the former prison in partnership with heritage developers ABNA Investments Ltd. and King’s Town Development Corporation.“It would be closer to a large indoor city market such as the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto than to a seasonal farmers’ market,” stated the release.The Union Park Market idea would resemble places like St. Lawrence Market in Toronto. Rendering via Siderius Developments Ltd.The developer mentioned that vendors would offer a variety of foods, flowers, and alcoholic beverages. Different types of bakeries, butcher shops, fishmongers, and chocolatiers could sell items alongside those providing produce, prepared meals, cheeses, and fresh herbs and spices. Florists along with wine, beer and spirits stores, cafés, and various ethnic food vendors are among potential businesses envisioned.The owners also emphasized that this proposed food vendor business wouldn’t compete with current farmers markets at either Market Square or the Memorial Centre: “This would be Kingston’s only year-round indoor market, and the intent is to add to the city’s existing markets rather than take business from them. A feasibility study carried out with Tourism Kingston found the idea workable and identified it as a regional draw with tourism potential.”According to developers, vendors will come from local producers rather than large chains-split between established Kingston-area businesses opening additional locations and small independent makers ready to transition from home production to permanent shops.“We’re really excited about moving forward with this project,” said Martin Skolnick of King’s Town Developments.However, there are municipal obstacles before any seafoods or meats can be sold at this food market proposal.Skolnick pointed out that currently P4W's cellblock is zoned for residential use but they still intend to create either office space or “more affordable residential units,” instead of upscale condos on upper floors comprising about 35 rental units.Yet at present time，the building isn’t zoned for commercial purposes needed for an indoor food market on its main level.“We have applied to the City for rezoning and we have a community meeting [at the City’s Planning Committee at 6 p. m.] on October 8,” Skolnick explained.Skolnick anticipates that if everything goes smoothly through approvals，then renovation work on this cell block could start allowing for an indoor food market along with rental housing by 2027，with hopes that it could open by 2028.Food trucks might also be allowed outdoors as part of this indoor food market concept. Rendering via Siderius Developments Ltd.Redeveloping this cellblock is just one aspect of an estimated $300-$400 million major change planned for former prison grounds at 30 Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard，which will be named Union Park Kingston.Other ideas include constructing a retirement home alongside a ten-storey hotel or apartment complex.However , these later stages faced significant challenges late last year.“We found out there were sewer servicing constraints from Utilities Kingston ,” Skolnick told Kingstonist , adding he wasn’t sure why earlier subdivision approvals had been granted by City given lack thereof sewer capacity.He suggested that ongoing sewer flow reversal efforts happening on Front Road ，known as Portsmouth Pumping Station Redirect & Trunk Watermain ，which dealt delays previously may explain why complete vision behind Union Park Kingston won’t progress right now.Nevertheless , P4W has enough infrastructure capacity available should redevelopment happen within Block 2 noted Skolnick.The revised commercial/residential concept will feature around seventy-five outdoor parking spaces.A full agenda regarding Thursday ’s meeting set for Oct.8th ,2026 hasn’t been published yet during press time.[ad_2]Source link

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