Riverside South, one of Ottawa’s fastest-growing suburban communities, is set to be transformed this year with a host of developments along Earl Armstrong Road to keep up with the area’s residential expansion.
Located in the south end of Ottawa in the Gloucester-South Nepean ward, the community is southwest of Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.
Riverside South has approximately 36,000 residents and is expected to grow by about 8,000 residents within the next four years.
Like much of southern Ottawa, Riverside South was historically agricultural land, though in recent years, it has undergone significant growth and development.
Earl Armstrong Road is named after the local politician who served as reeve of the former Gloucester Township from 1952 to 1972. It’s the main road where three significant developments are slated to take place in 2025.
Over the course of a three-minute drive, residents will soon be able to view the new O-Train extension, along with the long-awaited Riverside South Secondary School and sprawling Armstrong Plaza retail development.
The newest addition for the Riverside South community is Limebank Station, an important new hub in the city’s light-rail transit system.
With the recent re-opening of the O-Train in early January, residents of south-end Ottawa have had the opportunity to experience the newly expanded rail network along Line 2 and Line 4.
The new station located at the corner of Earl Armstrong andLimebank roads allows easy access for residents to use the transit system and will help ease reliance on OC Transpo buses.
Currently, secondary students in Riverside South do not have a local high school. They typically attend either Merivale High School or Saint Francis Xavier High School, both of which require a significant commute.
In 2023, the Ottawa District School Board received approval from the Ontario government to move forward with the construction of the new public high school and received $42 million in funding.
To help keep up with the rapid residential growth, the new school will have space for 1,516 students from Grade 7 to Grade 12 and cover about 19 acres of land.
The school will be located at the southeast corner of Earl Armstrong and Spratt roads and is set to open in September.
Site plan for Armstrong Plaza, a new retail development coming to Riverside South. The commercial project is expected to be completed in this summer. [Image courtesy of Urbandale Corporation]
The construction of Armstrong Plaza is also under way and will soon be the third major commercial development in Riverside South.
The plaza will be located at a prime intersection at the corner of Earl Armstrong across from the Limebank Station and will include new retail and office spaces. It will also be offering three drive-thru food locations — the first in the neighbourhood.
Various services are to be expected, including Moe Style Barbershop, Sun Nails Spa, Pawllywoof Pet Grooming, and more.
The plaza is scheduled to open this summer.
