November 11, 2021 | Neighbourhoods
A Guide To Riverside South: A Neighbourhood You Should Know About
In the latest edition of our Developments And Neighbourhoods You Should Know About series, we’re highlighting Riverside South, one of southern Ottawa’s most desirable suburban communities.
With a current total population of about 15,000 residents, this tight-knit community has a healthy local economy and is projected to become one of southern Ottawa’s larger communities in the years to come. With an expansive set of local amenities and natural attractions, Riverside South is a beautiful place to call home, especially for those with growing families.
To learn more about what life is like in Riverside South, let our neighbourhood guide show you why it’s a community we’re always excited to showcase to our clients.
About to begin your house-hunting journey? Visit these neighbourhood-focused blog posts to discover your next dream community.
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Where It Is
Situated less than a half-hour drive south of downtown Ottawa along the stunning eastern shores of the Rideau River is the community of Riverside South. Directly across the river banks is the much larger community of Barrhaven, which is easily accessible for Riverside South residents via the conjoining Vimy Memorial Bridge that crosses the Rideau River.
For further reference, Riverside South is located just a few minutes’ drive southwest of Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport, which is Ottawa’s main international airport. This means if you’re a regular flyer, your commute to and from the airport essentially couldn’t be more convenient.
Like much of southern Ottawa, Riverside South was historically agricultural and farmland, though in recent years the rapid expansion of the nation’s capital city has seen vast growth and development in communities like Riverside South.
However, since the first suburban-style developments and homes were built in the community around 1996, Riverside South has expanded at about the same pace as its neighbouring southern Ottawa communities — very quickly.
Riverside South is one of the four Ottawa communities we highlighted as being perfect for raising a family in. Find out more about why that is and what else we love about Riverside South in our informative community guides below.
The Homes
Although Riverside South is still relatively young in comparison to its long-term projected growth, the community has still managed to build an impressive number of suburban-style housing developments.
While plans to further expand the residential areas of Riverside South are still ongoing, real estate development companies and construction groups such as HN Homes, Richcraft Homes, and Urbandale Construction have all already constructed a notable amount of family homes in the community.
Seeing as most of Riverside South’s residential real estate planning has revolved around the quintessential suburban lifestyle, the majority of the properties here are detached single family homes and freehold townhomes. These homes most typically range in size from two to five beds, which make for ideal layouts for growing or mature families, though there are some properties more suited to singles and couples too.
While less common, you can still find units for sale in the select few condo buildings in the Riverside South area, though plans to build more condo and apartment-style buildings are definitely in the works for the near future.
While there technically aren’t any waterfront homes in Riverside South, there are many nearby in the community of Gloucester as well as the greater Ottawa region. To find out why waterfront properties are so popular and in-demand in Ottawa, read our related post below. Then, have a flick through our featured listings page to see if a waterfront property catches your eye in particular.
What’s Around
Those who live within Riverside South enjoy a well-rounded lifestyle due to the fantastic array of local amenities and amenities nearby.
Riverside South might be a primarily residential suburban neighbourhood for now, but the community still hosts its own wide variety of local shops, restaurants, cafes, and service centres. However, as we noted above, the larger community of Barrhaven is just a quick trip west across the Vimy Memorial Bridge too.
If a Riverside South resident can’t find something they’re looking for in their own immediate area, they’re sure to find it in one of the many shops and retailers in Barrhaven. Additionally, the scenic village of Manotick is less than a ten-minute drive southwest of Riverside South too, which always makes for a memorable day trip.
When it comes to recreational activities in Riverside South, the community doesn’t fall short there either. Encompassed by some of Ottawa’s most breathtaking natural beauty in the Rideau River, the surrounding stretches of Greenbelt, and the many public parks and nature trails, getting outside is more than enticing here.
Outdoor attractions such as Mosquito Creek, Claudette Cain Park, Summerhill Park, Four Seasons Park, the Chapman Mills Conservation Area, and many more stunning community parks and green spaces are all located within or nearby central Riverside South.
Interested in learning more about the communities that make up Riverside South’s immediate neighbours? Learn everything you need to know about downtown Ottawa, Manotick, and Barrhaven through our community guides here:
The Community Lifestyle
With such a plethora of vibrant and thriving natural amenities and attractions, it’s safe to say the residents of Riverside South enjoy spending time outdoors. Whether they’re walking, biking, wildlife sighting, or simply taking a walk through one of the many publicly accessible parks, there’s every reason for those who live here to venture outside and enjoy the natural beauty of this part of Ottawa.
And, like most southern Ottawa communities, Riverside South also features a comprehensive system of bike paths and trails, which means getting around on two wheels in the warmer months is not only picturesque but efficient too.
Because Riverside South is so close in proximity to other major economic and commercial centres within Ottawa, many local residents make daily commutes to and from surrounding areas like downtown Ottawa, Nepean, Kanata, and Barrhaven for work.
Those who have cars will tell you that driving in and out of Riverside South is a breeze as the community is ideally placed for short commutes. If you prefer public transit, the OC Transpo also provides Riverside South with various bus routes to and from surrounding towns and into downtown Ottawa.
And in the near future, Riverside South will become the new home of Limebank Station on the Trillium Line LRT, which will provide local residents direct access to Ottawa’s city centre.
If you’ve been considering a move to Riverside South — or any Ottawa-based community — in the near future, then our informative guides designed with Ottawa home buyers in mind will come in handy. Learn more about our home-buying process by reading through our buyer-specific pages here:
Ready to buy your dream home in Riverside or elsewhere in the Ottawa area? As long-serving local agents, we can help. Email us.