Where is the best neighbourhood for a young professional to live in Ottawa, Canada ?

Question

I am going to Canada end of August to work at the Faculty of Medicine at uOttawa and would like to find a residence which is in a student-friendly lively neighbourhood. I would like your opinion on these apartments blocks: Elgin Square, Centertown and Riverview place. I would appreciate any suggestions. I am looking for a one bedroom apartment.

Thanks

Answer 1

May I also suggest some others? Centretown and Riverview are not really that pretty, and they do have crime areas.  The sort of 'liveliness' you're looking for wouldn't be there.

Knowing Ottawa, I'd suggest, with our excellent Transit System, that you look for something in a nicer neighbourhood, as The U of O is easily accessible by many buses.  

The Glebe is nice, but expensive.. There are alot of nice apartments in the Fisher/Meadowlands area also, just 1/2 hour away by bus...

I would stay away from downtown, the 'concrete jungle', altogether.  Try living in or around Bronson South, or just past Centretown - a lively but safer area would be Westboro, and then a jaunt away is Fisher, with Singles, and families, and nicer, more affordable apts. and condo.'s.

Try looking up Apt. Rentals in Ottawa:

http://www.rentcanada.com/ottawa/

Also Riverside Avenue - Alot of Students and professionals live there, nice area, and again, easy route(s) to U of O.

Answer 2

Riverview is a nice area, but it backs on to Vanier, which has some issues of crime, poverty, etc.

Elgin Square is gorgeous, but pricey. You may also find it loud at times, being so close to downtown.

Centretown is also really nice, but you'll find some crime in certain areas (Catherine Street, for example).

Might I also suggest trying Westboro? It's West of Centretown, but it's a really gorgeous neighbourhood, very friendly, low-crime, and pretty well on the transitway (major bus lines straight to downtown and uOttawa). Prices in this neighbourhood are about the same as in the other three areas you mentioned, but I find the neighbourhood much nicer, more relaxing, and there is still a lot to do.

Of the three you listed, I would probably recommend either Elgin Square of Riverview--both are cleaner and nicer than much of Centretown, and are slightly more accessible by bus (depending again, on where you're living).

Check craigslist.org or kijiji.ca for rentals as well, because there are a number of people in the areas who own duplexes or triplexes with 1BR apts that would be as much as renting in a high-rise, but you might feel more at home!

Best of luck!

Edit: While C'Kins is right, the Glebe is very pretty, it's also very expensive (think $800 as a start price for a 1 bedroom, not including amenities). Fisher is a crime free area, but oh my goodness, it is not bus friendly, and much of the area surrounding it has little plazas and big box stores-- which really isn't my thing personally (Similarly, there are some nice places out on Merivale...but it's all big box stores and 45 minute long bus rides to get downtown)

Answer 3

I live in Westboro and it takes about 11 minutes to get from the Westboro transit station to U of O.

Stay away from Sandyhill as it is over priced and is mainly a student getto.