Centretown residents needn’t panic when they hear the dismal-sounding results of a recent neighbourhood demographic survey. There’s always room for improvement, right?
Centretown scored low in a few key categories in the Ottawa Neighbourhoods Study conducted by University of Ottawa researchers, who teamed up with city and health officials to obtain the data.
Roughly 5,000 people are below the low-income cut-off and the neighbourhood has a mediocre average income of $37,042 (on par with the whole Ottawa region). These factors helped to give Centretown a socio-economic standing of 4, with 1 being the most advantaged and 5 being the most disadvantaged.
But what might hurt the most is that 31 per cent of Centretown residents pay more than 30 per cent of their income on shelter.
That, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, is unaffordable. Thirty per cent of income is generally seen to be the most a person should devote to housing. The figures are largely reflected in another recent study on housing affordability in Canada.
Earlier this month, Royal Bank released its quarterly analysis of the cost of owning a home; the authors found that housing affordability in Canada is at the lowest it has been in 18 years.
So, in addition to a high proportion of people living with low incomes, it can be expensive to live in Centretown. Too expensive for many. In fact, according to the neighbourhood survey, 84 per cent of residents rent their homes or apartments.
But if the area scored low socio-economically, why does living downtown seem so desirable? That’s easy: because it is desirable.
The downtown core is an eclectic mix of cultures that isn’t as evident in other parts of the city. Little Italy sits on the western edge of Centretown, while Chinatown stretches down Somerset Street; both neighbourhoods are microcosms of the rich cultures.
And what better way to celebrate these cultures than with the variety of restaurants and stores that Centretown has to offer? Specialty food stores abound, there are also dozens of ethnic eateries where one can feast upon Caribbean, Indian, Chinese or Greek all within a few blocks.
Not to mention all the government and city money that has been dedicated to beautifying the downtown core. Landscaped parks, the Rideau Canal, the construction to update Bank and Preston streets – all of it is at the fingertips of Centretown residents on a daily basis.
All this and the neighbourhood is probably one of the most accessible in the city. Many bus routes service the area and attractions are often within walking distance – a great way to get out and exercise.
Centretown is the hub, the place where people come to do their business or to have fun. How exciting it is to live in the place where all the action is – where, in theory, the pulse of this city exists.
That’s why the Centretown neighbourhood is so attractive and why it will remain attractive – low rankings or not – in the future.
Until, that is, the cost of housing drives everyone away.