Townhouses For Sale in Otonabee Ward 1, Peterborough

First off the 115

For anyone commuting to Durham Region or the GTA, the south end is the most convenient part of Peterborough. Highway 115 passes just south of the city, and from Otonabee ward the on-ramp is minutes away. The GO bus to Oshawa also stops at a south-end park and ride.

That convenience is the main reason commuters focus here. It also means some townhouses back onto or face busier arterial roads, so check traffic noise at the times you would be home.

Winter is the other factor. The 115 can be slow in heavy snow, and there are stretches with little shelter from wind. Living on the south side of the city at least means you are not adding a cross-town drive before you even reach the highway.

Lansdowne Street on the doorstep

Lansdowne Street is Peterborough's main retail corridor, with a mall, big-box stores, groceries and restaurants. Many south-end townhouse complexes are within a short drive or walk of it, which is useful if you want to keep errands simple.

Peterborough Airport, a general aviation field with no scheduled passenger flights, sits just south of the city in Cavan Monaghan township, and the countryside opens up quickly beyond the city limit.

Mostly condo complexes, including bungalow-style units

The south end's townhouse stock is mostly in condominium complexes, many of them a few decades old. Some include bungalow-style units on a single level, which suit buyers who want to avoid stairs. Others are two-storey family designs with basements.

Because the complexes are older, look carefully at the reserve fund and the schedule of upcoming work. A low fee may simply mean that big projects have been put off.

Bungalow-style units in particular tend to attract several buyers when they are listed, since they are hard to find elsewhere in the city. Having your financing and a condo-document review lined up before you look will help you move when one appears.

Low-lying land and water questions

The south end sits on low, flat ground that has been prone to flooding, and it was among the areas affected in Peterborough's July 2004 flood. Since then the city has invested in stormwater upgrades, but it is still sensible to ask:

• Has the unit or complex ever had water in basements?
• Are there sump pumps or backwater valves, and who maintains them?
• What is the insurance deductible for water damage under the condo's policy?
• Is the property in a mapped flood plain?

Who buys in the south end

Commuters who drive the 115, downsizers wanting single-level living near shopping, and first-time buyers looking for an affordable condo townhouse make up a large share of south-end buyers. Investors are present too, though the student market is stronger in the north and west ends.

The south end is also a practical choice for households that split time between Peterborough and family in the GTA, since every trip south starts closer to the highway. It lacks the river views of East City and the newer streets of the west end, but it makes up for it in convenience.