May 2, 2023 | Neighbourhoods
Ottawa’s Commuter-Friendly Communities
While urban and populous, the city of Ottawa itself is fairly spread out. For commuters, this can make the process of finding the ideal neighbourhood to call home a little more complicated.
With decades of experience in our market, we know the communities of the National Capital Region like the back of our hands. We use this knowledge to help buyers find the perfect neighbourhood for them.
In this blog post, we’ll look at a few of our favourite commuter-friendly enclaves and share some highlights about what makes them a great place to call home. Of course, not everyone has the same style of commuting. With that in mind, we’ve got options for motorists and transit riders, and even cyclists.
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Barrhaven
Thanks to its great homes and down-to-earth energy, Barrhaven has become increasingly popular with home buyers over the past several years. As a result, many fantastic new residential developments are springing up in the area to accommodate the growing demand.
One of the major draws of Barrhaven is its abundance of amenities. There are several shopping centres in the area, including the Barrhaven Town Centre which features a range of stores and restaurants. For those who enjoy the outdoors, there are a number of parks and green spaces to explore, including Chapman Mills Conservation Area, Half Moon Bay Park, and the nearby Stony Swamp Conservation Area.
Along with a great lifestyle, one of Barrhaven’s top attractors is its commutability. Roughly a 20-minute drive from the city centre, accessing the core is an absolute breeze. While the area is already well-served by bus routes, transit commuting from Barrhaven is only going to get easier in the near future. After the completion of OC Transpo’s O-Train, residents will have quick and reliable access to downtown (and across the city) via Limebank Station in neighbouring Riverside South.
Manotick
Nestled just south of Ottawa along the Rideau River, Manotick is a picturesque and close-knit community known for its historic character and natural beauty.
Home to countless parks and green spaces, many of which are along the Rideau River, Manotick is a nature lover’s paradise. Whether you’re out for a walk, bike ride, hike, or simply taking in the scenery, the opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors are truly endless. Manotick also has a uniquely vibrant artisan scene as residents support and appreciate the growing selection of local businesses, amenities, and attractions.
Despite Manotick’s small-town atmosphere, it’s only a hop, skip, and a jump away from the city. In most cases, drivers can get downtown in as little as half an hour. The community is also served by OC Transpo, providing regular bus connections to local hubs. This degree of commutability has become one of the main reasons why young professionals and new families have been flocking to the community in recent years.
Getting ready to buy a home in the National Capital Region? Check out these other pages from our site to jump-start your journey.
Riverside South
Sitting on the banks of the Rideau River, Riverside South is a charming, up-and-coming suburb. Thanks to the area’s great homes, abundance of local amenities, fantastic scenery (including a comprehensive system of bike paths and trails), and family-friendly ambience, the community itself has seen rapid expansion in recent years.
On top of its modern suburban atmosphere, one of Riverside South’s main draws for today’s home buyers is commutability – being just a 25-minute drive into central Ottawa.
One of the direct benefits of the neighbourhood’s growth is the ramp-up of transit services. Right now, Riverside South is served by a multitude of bus routes that provide frequent connections to the city centre.
In addition to these existing services, Riverside South is set to become even more accessible after the completion of OC Transpo’s O-Train. As a bonus, the neighbourhood sits just south of Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport – making it extra convenient for frequent flyers.
Greely
Nestled just south of city limits, the fast-growing village of Greely is another fantastic community on this list.
Just one of the many reasons Greely is so popular with buyers is that it offers something for everyone. There’s a wide variety of homes, plenty of local amenities, and the local scenery is truly hard to beat. While there’s a distinct small-town charm to the community, it’s not far from the city for those seeking a burst of urban energy.
Greely is just 25 kilometres or about a 30-minute drive away from downtown Ottawa. For transit riders, the area is well-served by buses. That being said, Greely residents will also benefit from the upcoming O-Train expansion, finding quick connections into the city from the soon-to-be-completed Limebank and Bowesville stations.
Kanata – A Hub of Its Own
One of Ottawa’s largest suburbs, Kanata, is a laid-back yet highly convenient residential community. With countless family-friendly amenities, great schools, popular shopping centres, and a thriving tech hub, the area suits a wide range of residents.
From a commuter perspective, Kanata is unique. As an emerging hub of business with a rapidly growing tech scene in Kanata North, the community has become a small urban core in and of itself. As a result, many Kanata residents actually work fairly close to home, significantly cutting down their commute time. Thanks to this proximity, some residents who work in the area choose to commute by bike.
That said, Kanata is also commuter-friendly for those venturing beyond the community limits. Located approximately 20 kilometres west of downtown, the city centre is only a short drive away. Not to mention, there is an abundance of public transit options too.
Currently, the community is served by a number of bus routes that provide local connections and service to the city centre. Additionally, as part of the ongoing OC Transpo expansion, Kanata will soon be directly connected to the future Moodie Station via the West Transitway. This project will make getting around even easier for transit riders.
Thinking about buying? The Wright Team can help you find a great home in a neighbourhood that meets your needs. Send us an email or call at 613-692-0606 to get started.
