Welcome to Ottawa's neighbourly vibes
June 25, 2019
What do most people look for when searching for a pre-construction home? Price is probably right up there, followed by building type, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the floorplan, kitchen size, storage, a garage, a yard – well of course, the list is endless.
But what about the neighbourhood? How important is it to know about the area in which the home is being built? Wouldn’t it be great if there was a quick reference that would tell us what to look for and where to find it?
When companies wish to relocate employees to a new city they know nothing about, they look to Mercer.
A global consulting firm in health, wealth and career solutions, Mercer conducts annual quality-of-living reports based on factors pretty much all of us would want to know if we moved to a new place. More than 400 cities worldwide are covered and measured by 10 criteria: Consumer goods; economic environment; housing; medical and health considerations; natural environment; political and social environment; public services and transport; recreation; schools and education; socio-cultural environment.
How does this relate to Ottawa? In Mercer’s 21st annual quality-of-living survey released in 2019 that ranked 231 cities, Ottawa placed 19! That’s pretty amazing. NextHome takes a peek into some of Ottawa’s neighbourhoods where you can find a top-quality development and a new home to call your own.
Findlay Creek
Findlay Creek is located south of Leitrim Rd., bordering Albion to the west and straddling Bank St. to the east. This is a neighbourhood that has boomed in recent years, but you won’t hear any of the residents complaining.
Once they walk through these boundaries, most feel there is little reason to leave again. This neighbourhood is a family-friendly, yet hipster-posh place to live.
Findlay Creek is built for families. With plenty of greenspace, new and spacious homes and many amenities, this community offers residents a typical suburban lifestyle. This is a tight-knit neighbourhood with a Community Association.
The Findlay Creek Shopping Plaza has everything from a Tim Hortons and an LCBO, to a Fresh Co. and the local physiotherapist. There are also many schools in the area from all the Ottawa school boards.
Cars are the most popular form of transportation, and although there are bus routes along Hunt Club and Bank St., it’s not near Hwys 417 or 416.
New-home developments include Sundance, Lilythorne, Pathways at Findlay Creek and Cowan’s Grove.
Centretown
This bustling downtown neighbourhood is bounded on the north by Gloucester and Lisgar streets, on the east by the Rideau Canal, on the south by Hwy. 417, and on the west by Bronson Ave.
Here you’ll find sky-high office buildings surrounded by smaller residential ones. And the atmosphere?
Electrifying, day and night. Centretown is a busy, cultural mecca filled with people from all walks of life. The streets are lined with cars, buses, and cyclists veering in and out of traffic. There is a constant buzz of sound and an energy that is magnetic.
Centretown has a mix of older single-family homes and duplexes. New-home developments in and around the neighbourhood include Claridge Plaza 4, Fusion Lebreton Flats, eResidence, SoBa and the Bowery.
Manotick
This close-knit community is approximately 15 km south of downtown Ottawa and is bordered on the north by Bankfield and Mitch Owens roads, on the south by the Rideau River, to the east by Hwy. 416 and to the west by 3rd Line. First settled in the 1830s as a logging and milling town, Manotick is still brimming with small town, old-fashioned charm. The quality of life in this neighbourhood is perfect for anyone looking to raise a family, or to retire.
Most of your needs can be met without ever leaving the Village. There are plenty of medical doctors and dentists, a public elementary school and lots of small, local food and supply stores.
It’s a quick drive to Riverside South and Barrhaven with even more amenities close at hand.
New-home developments in the neighbourhood include Riverwalk and Mahogany.
Westboro
Westboro runs between Churchill and Island Park and south to 417. This area is the epitome of posh. It’s a great area and it’s got it all.
This is a trendy, active place where most people have dogs, kids, and a six-figure income. Many residents have to commute to work, but once home, they have everything they need right at their doorstep.
Richmond Rd. is lined with specialty stores, high-end fashion boutiques, restaurants and bakeries. The local coffee shops are filled with runners, cyclists, baby strollers – even at the earliest hours of the morning. Westboro is safe, has everything you need, and it’s still close enough to downtown and the rest of the city.
Residents can make use of the Transitway, the many bus stops along Richmond Rd., the O-Train, and the light rail train (LRT). Visitors and residents can also take advantage of the many bike paths, and Hwy. 417 is only a quick drive down the road. A new-home development in Westboro is Westboro Lofts
Related reading
About Marlene Eisner
Marlene Eisner is an award-winning print and online editor and journalist. She has written on many topics including new homes and condos in Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver, and has been the editor for numerous magazines and newspapers in Quebec and Ontario.