Within walking distance to the LRT, Ottawa River, and many local shops, restaurants, and schools, Hintonburg-Mechanicsville is the ideal home for families, young professionals, and retirees alike. That’s why Cahdco is so excited to be helping Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC) undertake the simultaneous redevelopment of its 212 Carruthers and 171 Armstrong properties. These twin projects will allow CCOC to preserve and grow the affordable housing stock in this neighbourhood.
Both constructed in the 1940s and acquired by CCOC in the 1980s, the original Carruthers and Armstrong buildings were deteriorating and in need of major repairs. CCOC saw redevelopment as an opportunity to increase the quality, density, sustainability, and accessibility of these properties.
212 Carruthers
At 212-216 Carruthers Avenue, CCOC is developing 10 units of affordable housing on the site of three former CCOC townhomes that had 3 units each. The new building is 3-storeys, utilizing wood framed construction and will include seven 1-bedroom units and three 3-bedroom units.
171 Armstrong
171 Armstrong/277 Carruthers will also be 3-storeys and 10 units. Unlike the original buildings it is replacing, which only had studio units, the new Armstrong project will offer a mix of unit types, including five 1-bedroom units, four 2-bedroom units, and one 3-bedroom unit.
These Redevelopments Will Feature:
- Accessible Units: 20% of the units are barrier-free (fully wheelchair accessible), ensuring CCOC’s units are welcoming to all and allow tenants to Age in Place;
- Net New Affordable Units: net 4 new affordable units across both sites. All twenty units across Carruthers and Armstrong will be offered at a mix of different affordable and attainable rental rates. The 4 three-bedroom units will answer the need for family housing in the area.
- Sustainable Design and Futureproofing: the new buildings are designed to meet stringent energy efficiency targets. This will increase tenant’s thermal comfort inside their units and decrease their utility bills. CCOC has also designed the roofs to accommodate future solar panels.
Just down the street from each other, this tandem redevelopment is highly efficient and allows CCOC to benefit from the economies of scale that result from the projects having similar designs, being in close proximity, and following a very similar timeline. Cahdco is delighted to bring their project management expertise to the table, along with Figurr Architects Collective and Thomas Cavanagh Construction Limited – General Contracting Division, to help bring these exciting projects to life.
These projects are also made possible by a combination of funding sources. To support both projects, CCOC plans on accessing funding from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and the City of Ottawa.
Project Progress
Construction on Carruthers began in November 2024. Work is progressing rapidly on site and the first new tenants are expected to occupy Carruthers by Q1 2026. As of April 2025, recent construction updates for Carruthers include:
- Completion of basement slab, roofing, window installation, and exterior moisture barrier;
- Back-framing and framing of basement walls ongoing;
- Completion of mid-construction air-tightness testing to validate energy performance.
Armstrong quickly followed, breaking ground in late 2024. Recent construction updates for Armstrong include:
- Completion of foundation, waterproofing, and weeping tile;
The Big Picture
These twin redevelopments are only two of CCOC’s many initiatives in Hintonburg-Mechanicsville. Once complete, the re-imagined Carruthers and Armstrong buildings will add to CCOC’s growing presence in the neighbourhood, which also includes the recently-completed 49-unit new build at 159 Forward Avenue and properties on Hinchey, Parkdale, and Stirling Avenue.