On February 19, 2025, the Cabbagetown HCD Advisory Committee and the Cabbagetown Preservation Association met with the Cabbagetown BIA to present the urgent case for protecting Parliament Street through individual heritage designations. As redevelopment pressures mount and the window to safeguard our architectural legacy narrows, this meeting marked a pivotal moment in advancing a vision that balances growth with preservation. The goal: to educate, inform, and rally support for a strategy that will protect Parliament Street’s distinct Victorian character, secure its cultural value, and ensure that any future development respects the street’s historic fabric.
View the presentation on Protecting Cabbagetown’s Parliament Street →
Why Parliament Street Deserves Protection Now
Parliament Street, between Gerrard and Wellesley, is the heart of Cabbagetown — a rare stretch of intact Victorian main street architecture in Toronto. While the surrounding neighbo
urhood is protected by multiple Heritage Conservation Districts (HCDs), Parliament Street remains unprotected. That leaves it vulnerable to redevelopment pressures that could erase its unique character.
What are the Boundaries?
The District’s proposed boundaries will include the commercial heart of Cabbagetown, which would include the buildings fronting on Parliament Street from Wellesley Street on the north to Gerrard Street on the south.
There are 24 properties listed on the city’s Inventory of Heritage Properties and approximately 150 addresses for this area.
The Urgency
Toronto is growing fast, and Parliament Street is now on the cusp of redevelopment. Developers are beginning to apply for zoning amendments that would allow demolition and increased building heights.
Under the Ontario Heritage Act, municipalities have until January 2027 to designate listed heritage properties or lose the ability to protect them from demolition. Given limited resources and time, Parliament Street needs a targeted and achievable protection strategy.
The Solution: Designate Key Buildings Now
Designating all of Parliament Street as an HCD would take up to 10 years — time we don’t have. Instead, the Cabbagetown Heritage Conservation District Advisory Committee (CHCDAC) and Cabbagetown Preservation Association (CPA) propose a more immediate solution: individually designating key heritage properties under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.
These buildings:
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Strongly meet provincial heritage criteria
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Represent the architectural and cultural essence of Cabbagetown
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Are most at risk from redevelopment
Why This Matters
✅ Strengthens Local Identity
Designated buildings help retain Parliament Street’s village charm — a defining feature of Cabbagetown that attracts residents, tourists, and businesses alike.
✅ Drives Economic Vitality
Heritage streets like Queen West or Niagara-on-the-Lake show how preserving character can fuel commercial success.
✅ Protects Property Value
Studies show that designated heritage properties tend to retain or increase their market value and are more resilient in economic downturns.
✅ Enables Sensitive Growth
Designation doesn’t stop development — it guides it. Designation ensures that changes enhance, rather than erase, historic character.
What Happens If We Don’t Act?
If Parliament Street is left unprotected:
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Developers can demolish character buildings with little oversight.
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The cohesive historic streetscape could be lost to generic, tall buildings.
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The charm and commercial distinctiveness of the street could disappear.
There Are Incentives Too
Property owners of designated buildings can access Toronto’s Heritage Tax Rebate Program, receiving up to 40% of annual property taxes back for eligible conservation work.
Learn More About the Heritage Tax Rebate Program →
Take Action to Shape Parliament Street’s Future
This isn’t about freezing Parliament Street in time — it’s about managing change thoughtfully so growth respects and enhances the historic character of our main street.
We invite community members, business owners, and city officials to support the designation of key heritage properties and participate in creating urban design guidelines that ensure Parliament Street evolves with integrity.
