Centretown is Ottawa's densest residential neighbourhood, stretching from the Rideau Canal to Bronson Avenue and from Gloucester Street to the Queensway. The housing stock is predominantly brick row houses and low-rise apartment buildings, with construction dates ranging from the 1880s to the 1940s. Newer condo buildings and infill projects are interspersed throughout. Centretown's walkability, transit access, and proximity to employment make it highly desirable. Row houses that sold for $300,0...
Centretown's brick row houses present unique renovation challenges. Party walls shared with neighbours require careful demolition and construction to prevent damage and minimize noise. Narrow lots (typically 15–20 feet wide) limit layout options and make material staging difficult. However, row houses offer excellent renovation opportunities. Rear additions and extensions are common, adding kitchen and living space where narrow lots limit width. Third-storey additions are possible where zoning ...
Parts of Centretown fall within Heritage Conservation Districts or contain individually designated heritage properties. Even outside designated areas, the neighbourhood's character is protected through zoning and design guidelines. For heritage-designated properties, exterior changes require heritage approval. Common requirements include: maintaining the original brick facade (never paint or clad heritage brick), using heritage-appropriate windows and doors, maintaining the scale and profile of...
With Centretown's narrow lots and compact floor plans, space optimization is essential. Effective strategies include: open-concept ground floors that combine kitchen, dining, and living ($15,000–$25,000 for wall removal and finishing), built-in storage throughout — under stairs, in walls, over doorways ($3,000–$8,000), pocket doors instead of swing doors to save floor space ($300–$600 each), utilizing the full basement depth — underpinning to 8+ foot ceilings enables comfortable living space ($2...
Renovating in Centretown requires contractors experienced with urban construction logistics. Street parking for work trucks and material delivery requires City permits ($50–$100 per day). Dumpster placement on the street also requires permits. Material delivery must be scheduled carefully as storage space is limited. Just-in-time delivery scheduling minimizes staging needs but requires precise coordination between contractor and suppliers. Noise and dust affect immediate neighbours more than i...
A comprehensive renovation costs $100,000–$300,000. Individual projects: kitchen opening $40,000–$70,000, bathroom renovations $20,000–$40,000, rear addition $60,000–$150,000, basement finishing $30,000–$60,000.
If your property is heritage-designated, painting brick is typically prohibited as it damages the masonry and alters the heritage character. Even for non-designated properties, painting brick is generally discouraged as it traps moisture and causes long-term damage.
Potentially, depending on zoning. Third-storey additions must comply with height restrictions and may require heritage approval if the property is designated. A pre-consultation with the City of Ottawa's Planning department ($150–$300) will clarify what's possible.
Before any work affecting party walls, notify your neighbour, get a building condition survey ($500–$1,500), and potentially arrange a party wall agreement. Use careful demolition techniques and protect the shared wall during construction.
If your basement has less than 7.5-foot ceiling height, underpinning ($25,000–$45,000) creates comfortable living space. In Centretown's market, the added square footage typically adds more value than the underpinning cost.