|
 |
|
|
| Neighbourhood History |
|
|
 The history of your neighbourhood is its identity!
If you have lived in your neighbourhood for many years, it is a source of fond memories. If you are new to the community, this section is a way for you to come to understand the background of the neighbourhood you now call home.
We would love for you to share the history of the neighbourhood for all to enjoy. If you have any bits or pieces of neighbourhood history, please submit them here!
Sandy Hill is a neighbourhood in Ottawa, Ontario located just east of downtown. It is bordered on the west by the Rideau Canal and on the east by the Rideau River. To the north it stretches to Rideau Street and the Byward Market area while to the south it is bordered by the Queensway highway and Nicholas Street. The area is named for its hilliness, caused by the river, and its sandy soil, which makes it difficult to erect large buildings. The population as of 2001 was 12,630 residents.
HISTORY
Sandy Hill was, during the nineteenth and early twentieth century, Ottawa's wealthiest neighbourhood. Then a fair distance from downtown, it was home to most of Ottawa's lumber barons and to the Prime Minister who lived at what is now known as Laurier House. It was for this reason that the University of Ottawa located in this region.
The construction of bridges over the canal and the introduction of automobiles and streetcars made the area much closer to downtown, and it began to decline as the very wealthy moved to Rockcliffe Park. The neighbourhood became much denser and more middle class.
The area saw much growth at the end of the Second World War as the baby boom increased the population and the nearby federal government began hiring. Many of the once grand mansions became embassies. Many nations still have their embassies in Sandy Hill, including those of Russia and of many African nations, which are clustered near the Rideau River.
GEOGRAPHY
Unusually among modern urban neighbourhoods, the demographics of Sandy Hill change dramatically over just a few blocks. Very wealthy people live near the embassies of the Rideau River, but as you get closer to the university, one finds more students, more senior citizens and more poor people living in boarding houses. The area is mainly English speaking, but there is also a large francophone population, and a large community from Somalia. The area is now very close to downtown, especially to the Rideau Centre, Ottawa's premier shopping area. The area is well served by mass transit and the Transitway passes by the university. It is also in an excellent school district.
Sandy Hill is often divided into three areas. Upper Sandy Hill consists of the area north of Laurier Avenue. This part of the neighbourhood is much older with many of its buildings dating from the nineteenth century, however the area is subject to the negative influences of Rideau Street. South of Laurier is Lower Sandy Hill largely built after the Second World War, though there are a number of much older structures. The far south of neighbourhood below Mann Avenue is an area known as Strathcona Heights. This area is much smaller geographically than the other two, but is densely populated. It consists almost entirely of low-rise apartment buildings that are either subsidised housing or co-operatives. This area was completely redeveloped in the early 1990s.
Notable Sites:
• Laurier House
• University of Ottawa
• Strathcona Park
• 5 Blackburn
Embassies
The large homes built by the lumber barons are today popular locations for embassies and many countries are represented in the neighbourhood:
• Algeria (Fleck/Paterson House)
• Austria
• Brazil
• Brunei Darussalam (Stadacona Hall)
• Bulgaria
• Burkina Faso
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Côte d'Ivoire
• Croatia (Toller House)
• Gabon
• Guinea
• Kenya
• Mali
• Morocco
• Myanmar
• Niger
• Pakistan
• Poland
• Russia
• Senegal
• Serbia and Montenegro
• Sudan
• Switzerland
• Tanzania
• Togo
• Uganda
• Venezuela
• Vietnam
Churches
• All Saints Anglican Church
• St. Alban's Anglican Church
• St. Clement Catholic Church
• St. Paul's-Eastern United Church
• St. Joseph's Catholic Church
Building Boom
BESSERER HOUSE is just one of the stately, historic homes found in Ottawa's Sandy Hill.
Local landowner Louis Besserer, along with Colonel John By, laid out the plans for the community that experienced a building boom for the next 50 years. The result is a blend of different architecture, ranging from Victorian to Georgian to Romanesque to the more modern buildings of the University of Ottawa.
Currently, only parts of the neighbourhood are designated as heritage areas.
Sandy Hill was one of the first in the province to have parts of its neighbourhood designated as heritage conservation districts.
The plan now is to protect the entire neighbourhood.
Many of the sprawling century homes have been converted into rooming houses and apartments for students, smaller families and single people.
Urban Lifestyles
The main streets, such as Laurier Ave., are peppered with local businesses in a predominantly residential neighbourhood, keeping out unwanted commercialism.
Sandy Hill is really a diverse neighbourhood comprised of a mainly transient bunch of residents who are drawn to the area's history.
It's a place for people who like urban lifestyles. It's compressed. And the students and professors add a fun dynamic that other neighbourhoods don't have. I love living here! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
