Business Headlines / December 9, 2005

Red-hot housing market beginning to cool   While market analysts say resale housing in Ottawa boomed last year, they caution next year could tell a different story. Centretown has shown lower sales figures this year, a trend that reports predict will be nationwide by 2006.   Chamber of Commerce sweet on Sugar Mountain   Centretown’s businesses are getting recognition for their contribution to the Ottawa business community in this year’s Ottawa Business Achievement Awards, winning the gold in four of the six categories.   Coffee shop serving up art with hot java   Chris Aldcroft wanted to bring a different kind of coffee shop to Centretown. He says instead of buying a java and “staring at your foot,” his Starving Artist Stone Carving Studio on Somerset Street allows customers to admire artwork and share ideas over a cup of coffee.   Business Beat: Human resources plan puts city managers to the test   It’s the first of its kind in the country. It spans hundreds of pages. It’s heavy enough that some have called it “the brick.”