Regent Park has long been known as one of the slummiest places in Toronto, ever since the 1930s. Officially located in the lesser part of Cabbagetown, the area is rife with social problems including crime, drug addiction, alcoholism, and other serious troubles afflicting the destitute and impoverished. The average income of residents is estimated at half of what the average is for the rest of the population in the city. Low income public housing, built back in 1949, provided less-than-adequate shelter for residents. Regent Park, also the name of the public housing complex, was a mess of crumbling dilapidated buildings far beyond repair. Which is why the whole eyesore was torn down.

Over the next few years, Toronto Community Housing plans to revitalize Regent Park, “into a healthy, mixed-income community that reflects typical neighbourhoods we see throughout Toronto.” Some land was sold to developers, and proceeds will go towards the construction of a few public housing projects set to be completed in 2009. Not only will a number of different residential dwellings be created that are environmentally sound and aesthetically appealing, but the area will also include business and commercial establishments to provide more amenities and employment opportunities to local residents. Already, the plans for two condominium buildings located at Dundas and Parliament have been revealed with a bank, coffee shop and grocery store on the main floor.

With the success of the gentrification of the rest of Cabbagetown, will Regent Park also meet a happy end? I hope so.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 7th, 2007 at 10:30 am and is filed under What's Happening. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.