September condo deals

Smart buyers took advantage of a slow month and reduced prices to sign on the dotted line, some of whom were handsomely rewarded:

A condo with a view in a renovated, well managed building: 1 bedroom with parking in Beechwood Village for just $208K

$270K for a nearly new 1-bedroom with stainless steel, hardwood floors and parking between the Market and U of O

2 bedrooms with parking in the East Market Lofts for $350K

Only $380K for a 2-bed/2-bath condo with parking
in a Charlesfort building!

$399K for a 1460sqft loft in Wellington Village, complete with parking and designer finishes... why buy new???

Monday Mixed Bag

Some of the Google searches that have brought visitors to this blog over this cold January:

"Where is Claridge Plaza 4?"

The last phase of Claridge Plaza will be built across the street from Claridge Plaza 2 on the east side of Cumberland Street and on the north side of Besserer St across from Richcraft's Galleria project. Plaza 3 and 4 will be connected by a ground level podium with a recreation centre, fitness club and lounge.

"Beechwood Ottawa Condos"

According to my contact at Domicile, the sewer and water mains along the east end of Beechwood are currently too narrow to accommodate residential intensification, so plans to redevelop Kavanagh Esso into 6-storey mixed use condos are on hold until infrastructure renewal (ie. installation of bigger pipes) is completed by the City. No word as to a timeline, so stay tuned for more information.

"Windowless Bedroom Condo"

Caution here: to be marketed as a bedroom in the City of Ottawa, a room must have 2 exits, usually a door and a window. Where there is only a door, the room is normally called a den or office; rooms with a door and a half wall (cue Domicile) can be called bedrooms assuming that you keep a ladder handy to climb over the wall in case of fire.

Always double check these facts, particularly when dealing with a private seller. I have known buyers who thought they were purchasing a 2-bedroom only to discover that they had a 1-bedroom plus den (for which they had usually overpaid). Caveat emptor, buyer beware.

Domicile condos coming to Beechwood Village

Late last year Domicile purchased the lot at 222 Beechwood Ave between Jolliet and Marquette (Kavanaugh's Esso Service Centre), putting forth a proposal for a 6-storey mixed use condo project similar to The Picadilly at 1422 Wellington Ave West:


I've had my eye on Beechwood Village for sometime as the next "it" neighbourhood, and some newer condo options could be just the boost needed to make this area more attractive to businesses and visitors alike. This enclave has always been a hidden gem; a mid-sized Domicile condo project on the main drag near such a great variety of shops would be a welcome breath of fresh air.

Domicile's last projects in the area were Governor's Gate on Durham Private and the redevelopment of Schoolhouse Square on Springfield, both of which were small scale projects with upscale price tags. At this time the neighbourhood could use an injection of more affordable condos, and these units on Beechwood along with Claridge's Lalique towers will be a welcome addition for those who want to be just east of downtown and the Market.