Located west of Preston Street (the O-Train tracks to be precise) is the diverse, creative and historic community of Hintonburg. This area is bordered by Scott Street to the north, the Queensway to the south and Holland Avenue to the west. The Ottawa Citizen recently described Hintonburg as Ottawa’s “newest ‘it’ community” and that “residents like the funky, affordable, multicultural and multi-generational aspects of their neighbourhood.”

Restaurants, local art galleries and shops line Wellington Street, the areas commercial strip. At the corner of Holland and Wellington you will find the new home for the Great Canadian Theatre Company, assisting this neighbourhood in emerging as an arts hot-spot for the city. Enjoy a stroll to the Parkdale Market to pick up your fresh produce and stop in at one of local coffee shops for a latte.

Hintonburg boasts quick access to bike paths along the Ottawa River, which can be used for your commute to work and weekend recreation. The community is home to great little parks, fantastic schools and a spirit that is insurmountable!

In recent weeks we’ve seen a few of the big banks and lenders discontinue these stated income programs.  While we still have some lenders that work under these guidelines, there is speculation that we may see an overall tightening of approvals in this area, and more lenders may follow.

As the spring market approaches, if you are considering either upgrading or purchasing income properties, you may want to consider it sooner rather than later as there is a risk that the stated income programs may not be available in the future. Speak to your mortgage expert for advice that is appropriate to your circumstances.

This information is provided by Sheri Creese, VP Sales & Service/Mortgage Agent at mortgagebrokersottawa.com

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The owner of Morala is a special woman so it’s no surprise that this is a special place! Amidst a crowd of coffee competition on this strip of Bank Street, Morala really stands out. The atmosphere is cosy Mexican, reflecting owner Miriam Rangel’s home country and its customers are as loyal as they come, often occupying tables on a regular basis. But it’s the food and coffee people come for above all else. Each cup is brewed individually so whether it’s a regular or specialty coffee, the taste is really rich and special. Miriam makes most of her food from scratch with wholesome and healthy ingredients – nothing pre-packaged here. Her baked goods range from super healthy muffins and scones to delicious cookies and bars – some even gluten-free. For lunch, her salads, wraps and paninis are out of this world. There are some special items, like her famous and delicious santo coyote panini, made with chipotle black bean spread.

Miriam came to Canada from Mexico in 1988 and proudly refers to Canada and Morala as part of her family. She has been the owner of 15-year-old Morala since around 2003 and when we asked her if there was anything she wanted to share with our readers, she responded, “I would love to let the wonderful community know how much I do appreciate their support!  I know well that Cafe Morala is an independent, small business that wouldn’t be there without all these great people… Thank you so very much!”

Cafe Morala is located at 734 Bank Street in the Glebe, between First and Second Avenues.

This ongoing series brings you inside the wonderful communities that make up downtown Ottawa – the neighbourhoods we know and love! 

“Glebe” is church land, by definition, which is exactly what our own Glebe neighbourhood was in 1837 when the area was granted to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. The Glebe’s boundaries have not changed since it went from being rural to “suburban” in its 1889 annexation – the canal to the south and east, Bronson Avenue to the west and the Queensway, which was the Canada and Atlantic Railway Line, to the north. In the late 1800′s waterway and landscaping improvements made for a park-like setting that would set the tone for future architecture and development. The agricultural fairground where Lansdowne currently sits was already a destination for residents of Sandy Hill and “Uppertown” and the canal was widened to accommodate steamboats at Fifth Avenue (then known as Mutchmor Street). Bank Street was always the commercial corridor and schools, of great importance to the early wealthy inhabitants, were erected in 1895 (Mutchmor School) and 1898 (First Avenue). Corpus Christi followed in 1926. Carleton University was established there in 1914 and the Glebe has been home to numerous institutions since then, including the seniors residence, Abbotsford, which is housed in the original 1872 Mutchmor homestead.

Today, Bank Street remains the hub of this walking neighbourhood, with its many restaurants, shops and services. Lansdowne continues to offer cultural and sporting events, and residents remain active in the decision to intensify densification. Many residents choose the Glebe for its proximity to Parliament, just like those who settled here long ago.  At the heart of the community are the Glebe Community Association and the Glebe Neighbourhood Activities Group, which runs out of the Glebe Community Center, and boasts a top-notch after-school program enjoyed by many young residents. With average home prices that top those of many other central neighbourhoods, the Glebe remains a first-choice, though sometimes elusive area for many.

Purging is the first step. Pack up all those old, unworn clothes and donate them to someone who will actually wear them. Same goes for your linens. Still have those king size sheets but only own a queen size bed? No dog for those threadbare, puke-coloured towels? Get rid of them. Once you are down to the bare essentials, it’s time to get organized. Separate your summer and winter clothing and if a basement closet isn’t available, buy a clothing rack to set up in your storage space. Invest in a basket or two for those hats and mitts. Same for your linens. Store those nice baskets in your bathroom or on the floor of a closet. IKEA sells a cheap shoe rack that works like a charm for lining up shoes and boots. Place a drip tray underneath and train everyone in the house to use it! Better yet, erect some shelving above your washing machine. Now for the kitchen. Sometimes a whole reno just isn’t in the budget. Until it is, try hanging a pot rack from the ceiling over a counter or buy a separate cabinet to place elsewhere as a pantry and free up some cupboard space inside the kitchen.

It takes some training and commitment, but keeping your home organized is the first step to making the most of small spaces. And if you Google “getting organized at home”, there are many great websites with valuable tips, too.

Making Your Home More Energy Efficient

When the temperature drops many people start to feel the impacts of having an older home, which may not be that energy efficient. Older windows, inadequate insulation, aging furnaces, cumbersome hot water tanks and air leaks can not only make for a chilly house but they can cause your energy bills to soar.

The Federal eco-Energy Program offers grants for improving some of these things. The current program expires on March 31, 2012 so homeowners should apply soon. There is an initial inspection which gives an overall energy efficiency rating for your home. Once the improvements are made, the home is re-evaluated and eligible improvements will qualify for a grant up to $5,000.00.

It’s unclear at this point what, if any, new program will be implemented after March 31, 2012, so if you need a new furnace, extra insulation or an on-demand hot water heater (among other things), check out this link:
http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/retrofit/4171