Cabbagetown Real Estate
So - everybody wants to know what’s going on. This version of our newsletter will lay out the truth, rumours, myths and best intentions surrounding several Parliament Street landmarks.

But before all of that …
Watch for Santa
In the next few weeks, Cabbagetown will have a very full Christmas program just for you. We’re arranging for two special Santa visits – to take photos with your kids (at Spruce and Parliament on December 15) and more photos with your dogs (to be announced, December 8.) There will also be a special Christmas lighting event at Anniversary Park (Gerrard and Parliament) on December 14 as part of its makeover by Green Force from HGTV.
Be careful though, when you get to the Santa event. Just a word of warning. Be sure to pick the right guy for your photo. We’ve got a fat Santa, a round photographer and lots of big plump blow-up snowmen. Maybe we’ll use name tags.

Real estate update

Aberdeen & Parliament
The latest edition of the Cabbagetown Preservation Association Newsletter has a couple of great stories about this site. If it hasn’t appeared at your home, check at the BIA office or at St Jamestown Deli (516 Parliament).
All the permits have been issued for this project. Demolition will start soon – in fact, it was scheduled for November 12.
A four storey complex is planned: the upper three levels will be apartments and the ground floor will be a Starbucks.

Regent Park
The first new residential and commercial projects are now appearing out of the holes in the ground at the corner of Parliament and Dundas and generating lots of interest.
The Daniels Corporation (who are working with Toronto Community Housing) has called this new area “One Cole” with 269 condos up for sale. Units will start at $189,000. They’ve started to collect names of interested buyers with occupancy expected in 2009.
They’ve also announced three significant retail clients to be located at Parliament and Dundas: Tim Hortons, Sobeys and the Royal Bank.
Next step is the construction of the sophisticated new swimming pool as part of the area’s central park facilities.
For photos and information, go to http://www.onecole.ca/

JavaVille
At the BIA Annual Meeting this week, JavaVille’s owner let it be known that he’s planning retail on the first floor and office and commercial space upstairs. We’ve all seen the bins and the dust flying out the doors so we know that the site is being prepared for its new life, but timelines and specifics about tenants are still unavailable. We’ve also heard about a restaurant franchise that’s possibly going to locate here but we believe that’s one chicken that won’t fly.

Cabbagetown Mews
The townhouses at 543 Parliament are virtually finished and, of course, some have been sold and occupied. Richard Silver is the agent for the last remaining four units. They can be inspected at Saturday and Sunday open houses. We're pleased to learn that the unit fronting onto Parliament Street will be an office and home to a technology company. For more information and pictures of the units, go to http://www.richardsilver.com/

How much can be preserved?
George Rust D’Eye and the Cabbagetown Preservation Association will be addressing this question and putting Parliament Street into perspective on Monday night at the Stonegrill on Winchester (51B Winchester). The space opens at 6:45 pm for the 7:00 pm meeting on Monday, November 26. For the starving masses, a special $25 Prix Fixe menu has been arranged starting at 5 to 5:30 pm.

Cabbagetown Tidbits
Getting hungry?
Specials for the holiday season are popping up everywhere. Be sure to ask at your favourite restaurant and food shop. For a start, we’ve seen menus at Daniel et Daniel (248 Carlton), PearTree (507 Parliament) and Big Mamma’s Boy (554 Parliament) – and these are just the icebreakers. Over the next few weeks, we’ll bring you the full story about Christmas festivities, New Year’s parties and gift specials.

More Jazz
Piccolo (226 Carlton) continues its Friday night series with Vincent Wolfe, Whitney Smith on guitar and Jordan O’Connor on upright bass. In the Anabella Lounge, 9:00 pm, Friday November 23. No cover charge.
Stonegrill on Winchester (51B Winchester) has its regular Sunday brunch with Toronto jazz legend Archie Alleyne. Noon to 3 pm, Sunday. No cover
Cobourg (533 Parliament) again brings John Alcorn. Beautiful music in an intimate setting. Sunday, November 25, 9 pm. No cover charge.

A final word...
Remember when it was summer on Parliament Street? This fine gentleman does.