There are so many to choose from, Westboro, New Edinburgh, The Glebe or Little Italy so where do we start? Bold living, decadent homes, profound public places, daring active adventure locals, or soul freeing commutes?
What is “Urban”?
The City of Ottawa is in the process of developing a new long term Official Plan. In the process the have defined The Downtown Core and Inner Urban communities as “15-minute neighbourhoods where walking is a real option.”
Using their maps the urban communities of Ottawa stretch from Foster Farm in the west where Richmond Road meets the Queesnway including the communities to the south of Meadowlands Drive up to the Rideau River and Hunt Club Road east of the Rideau River to include Alta Vista and the easter Ottawa communities up to Blair Road.
As you can see Ottawa has a large stretch of Urban Neighbourhoods, and a lot of variety in those neighbourhoods. To help narrow it down we’ve conducted a survey to compile xxx people’s top choices and we’ll also break down the Inner Urban communities by N-E-S-W geography.
What makes the best Urban Neighbourhood in Ottawa?
We asked the people in our survey and some of the more insightful responses were;
“The ability to walk to work, to walk to a diverse retail landscape, to take in incredible restaurants and to be able to stumble home from bars is so magical.”
“No need to own an automobile”
“Green spaces in which to bike and walk.”
“Diversity, not just in the people living in the neighbourhood, but also with housing types to ensure a range of income affordability.”
We have narrowed down our ranking system to 6 factors;
-The ability to embrace active transportation. (Waling, Cycling, Transit Connections)
-The Ottawa Neighbourhood Studies (ONS) Socioeconomic Index.
-Inviting commutes that give you more time to partake in life.
-Profound public spaces and inspiring community artwork.
-A delightful variety of shops and tantalizing restaurants.
-As well as a mix of housing options.
Ottawa’s Top Urban Neighbourhoods
In West Ottawa
Glabar Park / McKeller Heights
A 1950s community with large lots, many bungalows and a mix of townhomes and luxury housing set along Carling, Woodroffe, & Maitland shopping corridors with numerous parks and great tree coverage.
A hip gentrified community with elegant shopping corridors, mixed condo high-rises, centry homes and modern infill luxury homes along the Ottawa River.
Queensway Terrace North / South
A mixed neighbouhood ranging from townhome communities to large lots with spacious homes build in the original Fox Farm neighbouhood. Flanking the Queensway the communities are neighbours to Shopping complexes, business parks, the future LRT (Phase 2), and incredible parks, forests and walking/biking paths.
Set just south of Baseline Road to the east of the Queensway Carleton Hospital, Leslie Park features a number of unique town-house communities, parks and treed paths and Briar Green to the East of Greenbank Road features more single-family neighbourhoods connected by multiuse pathways to Centrepointe and Craig Henry.
Named one of Canada’s Top 10 up and coming neighbourhoods, Hintonburg is a neighbourhood in change. For the Better. With numerous shops and restaurants along Richmond Road, connected to the LRT at the South at Tunney’s Pasture, Hintonburg features a wide range of housing option from condos, to town-homes, and century or modern single-family homes.
Centered around Ben Franklin Place, the former City of Nepean’s City Hall now a fulsome community center, theater & library, Centrepointe offers wide range of homes from townhouses to large upscale houses.
Island Park / Wellington Village
Set to the east of the Island Park Boulevard these communities feature grand homes along the parkway, numerous single family homes along matured, treed streets, great shops and restaurants along Wellington Street, and a growing condo community.
In Down Town Ottawa
Located between the Rideau Canal and Rideau River south of the Queensway to where Smyth/Main cross the Rideau. Host to Immaculata High School and Saint Paul University, unique local boutiques and restaurants along Main Street along with the new modern community of Greystone Village that has many low-rise condo apartments, town-homes along the Rideau River, and many mature, treelined streets with a wide variety of single-family homes.
The beating heart of Ottawa’s downtown community filled with farmers markets, historic locals, restaurants and shops. Home to many condo apartments along the vibrant Rideau Street corridor and town-home communities and single homes to the North as the Rideau River meets the Ottawa River.
From the Golden triangle along the Rideau Canal to Parliament Hill and west to Bronson the neighbouhood is filled with shops, cafes, & restaurants, many businesses and offices, this is where Ottawa goes to work. From grand homes to town-home communities, infill developments and condo towers Centretown has the widest range of housing options.
One of Ottawa’s oldest neighbourhoods along the banks of the Rideau River with key streets Bank, Sunnyside & Bronson having a host of parks, shops, restaurants, and neighbouring Carleton University. Many century and luxury homes fill the community with a number of upcoming luxury condo projects.
One of the more famous prestigious neighbourhoods in Ottawa with the Lansdowne Park community space, boutiques & shops along Bank Street, affluent schools, parks, and homes.
In South Ottawa
Alta Vista – Applewood Acres
Alta Vista – Guildwood Estates
The rise above the Rideau Valley was an early 50s community filled with many unique single family homes especially along the parkway. Filled with interconnected parks & pathways, numerous shopping locals around the outskirts, and fantastic community amenities & centers.
Elmvale Acres / Canterbury
A community of pleasant crescents of mature trees with bungalows and single family homes surrounding notable community centers and schools right by CHEO and The Ottawa Hospital.
Quinterra / Revelstoke
Laying along the eastern edge of the Rideau River from Hunt Club to Mooney’s Bay featuring late 90s single family homes, adult oriented condo communities and riverside mansions.
Shop along Fisher, Baseline & Merivale, stroll thru the Experimental Farm lands from a wide variety of housing options; rental apartments & town-homes, condo town-home communities and single-family homes on large lots.
In Ottawa East
A picturesque community along the Ottawa River Parkway by the Canadian Police College offering a wide variety of housing options from condo apartments to town-homes, winding tree-lined crescents and great walking/biking trails along the Ottawa River & Aviation Parkway.
Ottawa’s premier neighbouhood of grand estates, embassies, private schools, and private clubs.
Flanked by the Aviation Parkway and the Nation Research Council lands, Carson Grove boasts both traditional and contemporary single-family homes, towering condo communities and town-home complexes. With shops along Ogilvie & Montreal Road, La Cite College, and Monfort Hospital to the North.
Home to both The Prime Minister and Govern General of Canada this community is where the Rideau River meets the Ottawa River at the beautiful Rideau Falls. Beautiful tree lined streets, dog parks, running/biking trails surrounded by historic homes, town-home complexes, condo apartments and shopping along the renowned Beechwood Avenue.
And the Top 5 Urban Neighbouhoods in Ottawa are
*Drum Roll*
5 – Old Ottawa South
3 – The Glebe
1 – Island Park / Wellington Village
What is your favourite Urban Neighbourhood in Ottawa? Let us know in the comments below.
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