BOUNDARIES

Queensway, Bronson Avenue, Carling Avenue, Bayswater Avenue (OREB 4502 and 4503) East of the O-Train, Preston Street is lively from early morning till the wee hours. But west of the tracks, the scene is quieter and largely residential. Changes are coming across this traditionsteeped neighbourhood — and quickly. “The energy of the neighbourhood is booming,” says Cundasawmy. At least four giant condo towers are proposed or already under construction near the corner of Preston and Carling, including a 55-storey Richcraft behemoth that will be the tallest building ever built in Ottawa.

Even though Richcraft has promised the neighbourhood almost $3.4 million in goodies to sweeten its proposal, concerns about traffic and shadows remain among longtime residents. And not every development idea for the area goes ahead: Domicile shelved plans for an 18-storey tower, the Nuovo, in 2014.

Little Italy’s catnip for developers includes an O-Train station, available land for redevelopment, easy access to the Queensway and Dows Lake, and a recently sprucedup main drag lined with bakeries, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. Whether the deluge of new residents will breathe even more life into the neighbourhood or smother it with too much love is anyone’s guess. Buy here for a front seat to watch intensification happen before your eyes.

Price range early 2015: $269,000 to $1,205,000.