Does a neighborhood named Cabbagetown sound appealing? Probably not, unless you would enjoy admiring the largest assembly of Victorian-period row houses in North America. The area east of central downtown was initially a farming community named the village of Don Vale. The derogatory moniker came about as Irish immigrants began settling here in the mid-19th century and planted cabbage in their front yards. Most of the brick homes were built prior to World War I. The neighborhood suffered a period of decline from the 1920s until the 1970s. Many of the residences were slated for demolition until an urban renewal law was passed. Cabbagetown has since been repopulated by professionals who have the means to refurbish and maintain the vintage homes.
