Real Estate
70,914 Housing Units in Ottawa
by Charles Lynch
Best evidence of Ottawa’s growth is contained in assessment figure at the City Hall. Ottawa’s population in 1959 was 250,803 and in 1951 it was 195,067. There were 70,914 housing units in Ottawa last year, houses and apartments, and 52,113 in 1951. Also there were 43,933 buildings of all kinds last year except garages. In 1951 there were 33,169. As further evidence of growth, Ottawa Hydro had 84,618 customers in 1959, and 60,361 in 1950.
These statistics demonstrate the need for more and more housing accommodation.
The Ottawa Real Estate Board reports sales last year totaled $24,000,000 and in 1951 amounted to $786,000.
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In Toronto where distance is a big factor a trend is reported of people returning from the suburbs to old settled parts of the Queen City. This is not so in Ottawa but with large apartment Building in old Ottawa the flight to suburbia is not as great as three years ago.
Many people like to live some miles from Parliament Hill in new homes, with new schools for the children, playgrounds and plenty of fresh air.
At that there are many subdivisions in Ottawa like McKellar Park, Highland Park, Glabar Park, Britannia Heights, Parkway Park, Copeland Park, Queensway Terrace, Bel-Air Park, Bel-Air Heights, Fisher Heights, St. Clair Gardens, Courtland Park, Carleton Heights, Revelstoke-Bayview Park, Ridgemont, Blossom Park, Heron Park, Applewood Acres, Rideau Park, Faircrest Heights, Riverview Park, Elmvale Acres, Castle Heights, Cardinal Heights, Rothwell Heights, and Manor Park.
Incidentally, to illustrate the size of some of these subdivisions there is Elmvale Acres with 1,700 homes and a population of 7,000. A small city.
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A number of subdivisions still in the planning stage are being scrutinized by the Planning Branch of Ottawa’s Department of Planning and Works.
They include:
Pine Hill Subdivision, south of Brookfield Road in the Heron Park area. Approximately 30 acres are involved. Principal Investments is behind the
project.
Lincoln Heights, north of the Richmond Road, a 20-acre site. Assaly Construction Ltd., backs the undertaking.
Mooney’s Bay subdivision comprises a 60-acre site being developed if plans materialize by the Riverview Development Company.
Riverdale Park subdivision, south of Brookfield Road and east of Riverside Drive. This is a 100-acre project going ahead under the auspices of the
Campeau Construction Co. Ltd., when the necessary approval is obtained.
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Ottawa’s real estate market continues to boom. Buying a house in the Capital today generally requires a minimum down payment of $2,000 and a new house owner can expect charges of $100 a month plus heating. Costs generally run from $14,500 to $20,000 with 25 types available.
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Also, people living on the outskirts of old Ottawa will benefit the most with completion of the $31,250,000 Queensway Limited Access Highway. It will provide a speedy and direct route to Ottawa’s downtown areas. Seven miles will be completed late this year from Hurdman’s Bridge to Green’s Creek. It will mean that a fast route will be established to Nicholas street.
Source: Ottawa Journal, August 13, 1960, p. 24.