Where: Balmoral Drive, Limebank Road, Mitch Owens Road, Spratt Road, Rideau Road, Rideau River
OREB code: 2602
Price range early 2015: $237,500 to $1,149,999
By the numbers:
Riverside South has been “almost there” for nearly two decades, since the first houses went up in 1996. For residents, it has been a long wait for everything from transit to recreational facilities, even though the population soared by 59 percent between 2006 and 2011 alone, to roughly 11,000 people. The city forecasts that by 2031, almost 50,000 people will live here.
And unlike many neighbourhoods, Riverside South offers a wide range of housing types, so it will be relatively easy for residents to stay in the area as their needs change from starter condo to family home to bungalow. “It’s a new way of building a neighbourhood,” says realtor Miller.
The big news last year was the completion of the Vimy Memorial Bridge across the Rideau River, connecting Earl Armstrong Road in Riverside South to Strandherd Drive in Barrhaven. Until it opened, residents routinely drove seven kilometres south to Manotick or 13 kilometres north to South Keys to shop.
After the ribbon cutting, they suddenly had access to extensive retail and recreation choices in Barrhaven, just a few kilometres away. Also the city is once again talking about extending the O-Train and Transitway to Riverside South. Cross your fingers.
What’s There:
Restaurant
665 Earl Armstrong Rd.
If a country borders the northern or eastern Mediterranean, it’s likely that Zizis has taken a bit of inspiration from it for its diverse menu: Spain for patatas bravas, France for steak frites, Italy for shrimp linguine, Greece for souvlaki, Turkey for kofte, and various Middle Eastern countries for tabbouleh. The open kitchen, rows of wine bottles, cheery tiles, and an orange wall create a warm but casual ambience. The wine list includes both Old World (Spain, Italy, Portugal) and New World (California, New Zealand, Australia) vintages.
Park
Claudette Cain Park
660 River Rd.
With its splash pad, field house, play structures, and recreational paths, Claudette Cain Park is a hub for local events — everything from Canada Day celebrations to Shakespeare performances by A Company of Fools — while its pretty wooded areas and gorgeous views of the Rideau River draw nature lovers.
Recreation Centre
3500 Cambrian Dr.
Following the completion of the Vimy Memorial Bridge, this Barrhaven rec centre, which opened in November 2014, is just a 10-minute drive from Riverside South. Highlights include two NHL-size rinks, a 25-metre lap pool, a leisure pool with a lazy river, a full-sized gym, and an indoor walking track.
