Should I Avoid Renting An Apartment In Ottawa's Byward Market Area?

Ottawa's Byward Market area, located less than 10 minutes walking distance from the Parliament of Canada, has gone through very significant gentrification over the past several years and the area has improved thanks to the recent construction of several highrise condo projects. These have attracted an increasing number of middle-class, young professionals to the area.

Despite these improvements, living in the market area still has its disadvantages. Three homeless shelters and soup kitchens are located in the area and alcoholism among the people who frequent these places, as well as the occasional sale of drugs on the streets, do result in social problems, which continue to pose challenges for the neighbourhood. Additionally, parts of the market area, especially around King Edward Street, remain run-down with a number of abandoned, boarded up houses.

If you are looking to rent in the Byward Market area, try to stick to the western parts of this district, namely those areas closer to the market itself, the Rideau Centre and Sussex Drive.