Cost Is No Issue
The theme of this section is pretty self-explanatory:
these are the ’hoods to consider if your budget runs deep enough to buy all the ensuite bathrooms, granite countertops, and home theatres your heart desires. You might pay a premium for a central location and old-money neighbours (Rockcliffe, the Glebe) or for a mid-centurymodern house straight out of Architectural Digest (Rothwell Heights). Perhaps a sleek modern mansion in the city (Alta Vista) or on a country acreage (Manotick) is more your style. Or maybe you just want to dream about what you would do with all that Lotto 6/49 money. Whatever floats your yacht, read on for ideas.
1 ALTA VISTA
Close to four hospitals and the cluster of medical associations near Alta Vista Drive and Smyth Road, Alta Vista is a popular choice for health professionals. Of her clients in this neighbourhood, Cundasawmy says, “I can’t even think of the last time somebody wasn’t in the med biz.” The priciest properties are usually large new houses that have slowly replaced some of the neighbourhood’s post-war bungalows. This is a ’hood for people who enjoy their peace and quiet, but big-box shopping, gyms, and entertainment (Trainyards, Lansdowne Park, South Keys) are a relatively short drive away. Borders: Bank Street, Riverside Drive, Smythe Road, Lynda Lane, Grasshopper Hill Park, Kilborn Avenue OREB codes: 3603, 3604, and 3606 Condo prices (monthly average): N/A Condos sold last year: 0 Non-condo prices (monthly average): $499,900 to $1,495,000 Non-condos sold last year: 56 People who go to work by car: 68%
2 THE GLEBE
Before the Tilley-hatted hordes rise up as one to yell, “There’s more to the Glebe than mansions,” we’ll concede that there are still some relatively modest row houses dotted throughout the area. However, it can’t be disputed that the ’hood is also home to many lovingly restored heritage houses and sleek infill properties. On top of that, it offers easy access to cute boutiques, quirky restaurants (I’m looking at you, JAM Cereal), more coffee shops than you can shake a latte at, and the Rideau Canal. You can walk to Lansdowne Park, see a game or movie, pick up something for dinner at the Ottawa Farmers’ Market or Ottawa’s only Whole Foods Market, and catch some live music at Irene’s Pub on the way home. Plus, you can easily walk or cycle downtown. All this leads to some eye-popping sticker prices. Borders: Bronson Avenue, the Queensway, the Rideau Canal OREB codes: 4401 and 4402 Condo prices (monthly average): $387,450 to $994,633 Condos sold last year: 36 Non-condo prices (monthly average): $650,000 to $1,289,500 Non-condos sold last year: 75 People who go to work by car: 48%
3 MANOTICK
If you want to spend your money on green space and fresh air, Manotick is a great place to look. Hidden away at the end of artfully landscaped drives, you’ll find some of the region’s largest houses, some backing onto the Rideau River. Many are new: 20 per cent of the area’s housing stock has sprung up since 2006. Manotick offers a rare combination of all mod cons and historical charm: Watson’s Mill, built in 1860, is one of the few remaining operating grist mills in Canada, and heritage buildings near it are home to a florist, a gingerbread bakery, and other fun shops. More growth for Manotick is on the horizon: last October, Ottawa City Council gave Minto the green light to add 897 more houses to its Mahogany subdivision, which will provide more customers for local shops and services but might also increase the existing 40-minute drive to downtown Ottawa in rush hour. Borders: Village of Manotick and immediately adjacent rural areas OREB codes: 8001 to 8005 Condo prices (monthly average): N/A Condos sold last year: 0 Non-condo prices (monthly average): $702,575 to $1,197,723 Non-condos sold last year: 130 People who go to work by car: 93%
4 ROCKCLIFFE
Shady, secluded Rockcliffe — surrounded by the city but, until 2001, not part of it — has the elegance to which other upscale enclaves aspire. It’s defined by what it has (two private schools, ambassadors’ homes, and its own lake), as well as by what it doesn’t have (sidewalks, retailers, and through traffic). When outsiders think of Rockcliffe, they often picture century-old houses, but the ’hood has its fair share of modern places, many built by high-tech millionaires or developers. The Cowpland’s posh modern pad on Perley Court, with its 10,000 square feet of glassy opulence, regularly tops lists of Ottawa’s most expensive properties and was assessed at $14 million in 2016. With just 1,932 people living in roughly 700 houses, Rockcliffe doesn’t have a lot of turnover, but you can afford the time to consider your options: properties in this ’hood have been known to stay on the market for a year or more. Borders: Lisgar Road (with sidetrack onto Princess Avenue), Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway, Acacia Avenue, Sandridge Road, Birch Avenue, Hemlock Road, Beechwood Avenue, Maple Lane OREB codes: 3201 and 3202 Condo prices (monthly average): $770,000 to $1,030,000 Condos sold last year: 2 Non-condo prices (monthly average): $1,037,450 to $2,800,111 Non-condos sold last year: 25 People who go to work by car: 78%
5 ROTHWELL HEIGHTS
Just because you have a lot of money to spend doesn’t mean you want to spend it on a historic stone mansion built by a lumber baron or a brand new McMansion where the paint is still drying. Those whose tastes run to Danish modern furniture and abstract art may find themselves drawn to Rothwell Heights. Even smaller than Rockcliffe, with just 490 houses, it also has a lower profile: most people driving past the National Research Council’s campus on Montreal Road wouldn’t even think to turn north and check it out. Borders: Blair Road, Ottawa River, Kaymar Drive, Delong Drive, Rothwell Drive, Cedar Road, Beckenham Lane, Montreal Road OREB code: 2101 Condo prices (monthly average): N/A Condos sold last year: 0 Non-condo prices (monthly average): $965,760 to $2,222,000 Non-condos sold last year: 19 People who go to work by car: 85%