First time, I ended up being in the neighbourhood as a result of my occasional exploring Toronto. The neighbourhood was not so welcoming. It was creepy and I remember I felt fears even. I didn't even think about living in the neighbourhood at the time.
A few years later, I met my friend, K, who lives in the east edge of Regent Park and started to visit the neighbourhood often. K joked that it was South Cabbagetown, just divided into two, rich and poor, placing Gerrard Street East as a border. As I visited the neighbourhood often, I started to see people's faces. Most of Torontonians I have met said just "ewww" when I said I went to Regent Park. It was because of the high rate of crime, but they didn't know the faces of new immigrants that live toughly in the neighbourhood. I remember I somewhat felt that those people were very cheerful to me.
After saying good bye to my first own bachelor apartment in a crackhead's whorehouse on Maitland, I decided to move in to K's townhouse. I have lived there until I moved to Calgary last year. Regent Park/Cabbagetown became one of my favourite neigbouthoods in Toronto.
When I call Toronto my home, I always picture the scenery of Gerrard Street and Streetcars.
I read this article in Toronto Star, I felt a little sad and excited at the same time. Constructions in Canada takes forever, but no matter how long it takes, it will good for the neighbourhood's next centrury to go back to be a part of the city. I will look forward to seeing the developments in the future.
1 comment:
I used to jog past Regent Park, along Gerrard St. Twice I had empty wine bottles thrown at me; missing me they smashed each time on the sidewalk or road.
Hopefully the much need transformation of the neighbourhood doesn't include giving the street winos lessons in throwing :)
Now if only we could bring some security and community to St. James Town.
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