TARTAN HOMES BLOG

If you build it, they will come. And they have! As Tartan Homes continues to develop the burgeoning Findlay Creek neighbourhood in South Ottawa, the growing community of homeowners has attracted an increasing number of amenities, services, light rail — and more builders.

So, what’s new at Findlay Creek?

“It’s really grown.”
— Heidi Hayley, Tartan’s Marketing & Digital Design Centre Director

That’s an understatement! There has been so much activity that it’s almost hard to know where to start. To simplify, here’s a list of 8 updates on activity and what’s new at Findlay Creek:

1. Light rail is almost here!

Construction on the extension of the O Train Trillium line is coming along. Originally scheduled to open in 2021, it’s now on target for 2023 with the station at Leitrim progressing well.

Leitrim Station is an existing bus station and park-and-ride facility located south of Leitrim Road. The new Leitrim Station has been designed to act as a transfer station for buses and rail. The city says the existing park-and-ride will be expanded to accommodate 330 parking spaces initially, with a future capacity of up to 925 spaces.

Once it’s operating, this extension of the city’s light rail system will provide even more options for Findlay Creek residents to efficiently navigate the city.

2. On the school front

Along with light rail, schools are a popular topic among Findlay Creek residents. That means the province’s announcement in April that a new public elementary school is coming to the community is welcome news!

The new school will have 674 student spaces and 39 licensed child-care spots to ease the overcrowding at Vimy Ridge Public School, the province says. It will be built at the southeast corner of Miikana Road and Kelly Farm Drive, about a kilometre from Vimy Ridge.

A new English Catholic elementary school, announced last December, is also on the way. It will be built on Kelly Farm Drive and Findlay Creek Drive and will create 507 spaces for pupils and 39 new licensed child-care spaces. It’s scheduled to open in September 2024.

3. Bank Street widening

The widening of a 2.5-kilometre, two-lane stretch of Bank Street in Findlay Creek is getting closer. Back in 2013, the decision was made by the city to delay until 2031 the widening of the stretch of Bank from just south of Leitrim Road to Dun Skipper Drive. But then in 2020 it was pushed forward, with design work expected in 2021 and construction this year.

According to an update posted recently by Councillor Carol Anne Meehan, construction is now planned to run from 2023 and into 2024. The project “will include a raised median and modifications to signalized intersections that will have protected intersection features. The project will also include approximately five km of sidewalks, cycle tracks and grass boulevards and 0.6 km of paved shoulders,” she says.

4. We’ve got a Starbucks! (and so much other shopping & services)

Shopping at Findlay Creek has expanded immensely with the recent opening of Cowan’s Grove Plaza on the east side of Bank Street, just across from the pre-existing Findlay Creek Centre. The new plaza brings not only a Starbucks, but a Royal Bank, Crust & Crate Pizza Pub, and services such as a dental clinic, vision centre, animal hospital and more.

And that’s on top of the extensive shopping and services on the west side of Bank that include Canadian Tire, FreshCo, Tim Hortons, Shoppers Drug Mart, McDonald’s, LCBO, Jonny Canucks, Bulk Barn, Scotiabank, CIBC and much more.

With all of that handy, there’s little need to venture further for most day-to-day needs.

5. Parks, parks & more parks

Findlay Creek is full of parks, with six already in place for resident use. New ones include:

• Anisha Park, along Kelly Farm Drive between Kestrel Street and Sora Way. It features a new stormwater pond surrounded by walking paths, a soccer field and a multi-use .
• A fenced dog park and tennis courts have opened across from the new Tartan Homes models and connected to the huge Diamond Jubilee Park.
• Plus, there’s another park planned for the area where we’re currently selling Phase 25, which is near Kelly Farm and Leitrim Road. It will include a soccer pitch, splash pad, play structures, basketball court, walking paths and more.

Combined with the Leitrim wetlands and Findlay Creek boardwalk, the community is blessed with natural and outdoor spaces to relax and play.

6. Hitting the 4,000 mark

Tartan Homes, along with our frequent building partner Tamarack Homes, has been building at Findlay Creek for almost 20 years. And in that time, we’ve built almost 4,000 homes!

That means that not only is Findlay Creek a new, vibrant and growing community, it’s also a well-established one, with some buyers now onto their second and third homes in the neighbourhood.

It also means Findlay Creek has been able to develop and attract a wealth of amenities to enhance the lives of residents. And as a growing community, Findlay Creek is diverse and full of the bubbling laughter of children.

What’s not to love about that?

“There are so many kids playing outside!”
— Anna Riopelle, Tartan Design Centre Manager

7. New models

Findlay Creek has been known for many years for its plethora of model homes to tour. And it’s exciting when there are new models to see! We have opened six new model homes to tour, either in person or virtually, with another two coming this summer.

Check out four of our popular townhome models:

The Cortland: This is a corner townhome that lives like a single. It features a mid-century modern styling mixed with touches of black and white and splashes of geometric tile to spice things up.

The Spartan: Finished with mostly standard (or included) features, the Spartan shows how you can have a beautiful home without having to spend a lot on upgrades. It boasts warm and welcoming earth tones and clean lines.

The Gala: At 2,444 square feet, this town is larger than many singles and has an optional four-bedroom layout. Fun find: get creative with a classic feature such as a subway tile backsplash by opting for a dark colour with light grout and turning the pattern on its side. Instead of stacked horizontal bricks, they’re vertical!

The Fuji: This mid-sized townhome is perfect for first-timers, young families and downsizers. The design is crisp, clean, airy and stylish to showcase how a white-on-white palette, warmed by a few wood touches, can work.

And there are two single-family home models to tour:

The Cambridge: Our largest two-storey single, the Cambridge is made for growing and/or multi-generational families. It offers four or five bedrooms, all with walk-ins, a possible secondary master or nanny suite, separate formal and informal living spaces and a main-floor office. The model is designed with a sophisticated blend of neutrals to both add a pop of colour and keep the spaces grounded.

The Turner: Black, white and grey — with splashes of orange — define this family home. It’s another example of how using mostly standard finishes, which is a Tartan signature in our model homes, can create a beautiful home you’ll love.

Plus, there are two more single-family home models coming in July: the Sirius and the Vega, both 4+ bedrooms on a 35-foot lot.

8. It’s garage sale time

And, last but not least, it’s time once again for the Findlay Creek Community Association Spring Garage Sale! This community-wide event is a great way to clear out your clutter, find a new home for it, and make a few bucks in the process. Who knows, maybe you’ll even discover a few treasures for yourself, too.

The sale is June 11 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a rain date of June 12. For more information, check out the FCCA Facebook page.