Ottawa home builder Caivan has started a new chapter at its flagship community The Conservancy in Barrhaven with a trifecta: a trio of model homes have opened; new floor plans have been introduced; and dozens of fresh townhome and single-family home lots were released, all on Oct. 18.
It’s the first time since launching The Conservancy in 2018 that Caivan has showcased designer-decorated model homes to tour. The delay means buyers can now get a real sense of the community with more than 400 homes already built, says Jonathan Wiseman, executive vice-president of sales and marketing.
“You can get a feel for these streetscapes and how that compares to other neighbourhoods. It really is a special place in central Barrhaven.”
Located just north of the Jock River between Hwy. 416 and Greenbank Road and just south of Strandherd Drive, The Conservancy is a planned community that will eventually see more than 3,000 homes built, a mix of singles, two-storey towns and stacked townhomes.
Despite its location in central Barrhaven, there’s an emphasis on nature at The Conservancy. The community hugs the Jock River, where reconstructed wetlands with trails will bridge a three-kilometre-long swath of land between the river and the homes, and six parks will offer gathering spots to play and relax. The greenspace alone will total about 140 acres.
At the same time, The Conservancy is close to all the shopping and services of Strandherd Drive and Greenbank Road and is close to 12 schools.
The new floor plans
Along with the new models to see, Caivan has taken the opportunity to freshen its portfolio, tweaking some existing floor plans and adding new ones. “It’s really all about the families who will be living here” and what their needs are in a changing market, Wiseman says.
Fourteen new plans have been introduced, ranging from 35-foot lots with either a single- or double-car garage and a 41-foor corner lot to 42-foot options and homes meant for a 50-foot lot.
All come with included features such as nine-foot smooth ceilings and hardwood on the main floor, a finished basement rec room, quartz kitchen counters and higher upper cabinets.
Optional layouts allow buyers to personalize a plan for their needs, from alternate kitchen and bedroom configurations to main-floor suites, home offices, loft retreats and more. And, where possible, Caivan takes advantage of bump-outs to add extra windows to give a wraparound glazing effect. “It just adds a lot of really great character,” Wiseman says. “It really is all about bringing in as much natural light as possible.”
Initially, the new floor plans are available exclusively at The Conservancy, but they will be offered at Caivan’s other communities — Fox Run in Richmond, Orléans Village in Orléans and The Ridge, also in Barrhaven — in the future.
The models
Three single-family home models have opened along with a new sales centre at 1033 Canoe St. — a 35-foot plan with a single-car garage (the Hemlock) and two 50-foot plans, one showcasing a main-floor guest suite (the Ironridge) and the other offering a separate basement entrance in the rear and a third-floor loft (the Stonehaven Loft).
As well as being bright and airy, all feature layouts that feel fresh or unexpected. And all represent newly introduced floor plans. “We really wanted to showcase a few of these really special designer choices that are available with the majority of our plans,” Wiseman says, referring to optional layout possibilities.
While all three would appeal to a move-up buyer, the Hemlock also caters to first-time buyers as well, Wiseman says. The model shows three bedrooms upstairs (there’s an option for a fourth) and another in the basement, along with a full bathroom. Other options shown in the model include nine-foot ceilings on the second floor, a gas fireplace and alternate layouts for the kitchen and primary suite, including an envy-inducing ensuite with a private balcony.
Offering 2,384 square feet (including the finished basement), and done in a style labelled “Japandi sensibility,” it features a minimal approach utilizing natural, tactile materials and a natural, light and earthy palette, says Leah Wellstein, Caivan’s general manager of design and contract administration.
Next to the Hemlock is the 50-foot Ironridge. Boasting six bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms in its 3,696 square feet of finished space, this home is perfect for a multi-generational family with its main-floor guest suite, second-floor flex space (shown as a home office in the model), additional full suite upstairs and basement sauna and home gym, which could be finished as yet another bedroom.
It’s “sophisticated precision featuring rich oak millwork and expansive glass,” Wellstein says of the design.
The second 50-foot model, the Stonehaven Loft, chooses different options to highlight, including the separate basement entrance to the fully finished lower level (complete with a wine room!), the third-floor loft retreat and 10-foot main-floor ceilings.
This floor plan has the option of four to eight bedrooms (the model shows six) and 3.5 to six bathrooms (the model shows 5.5) in its 4,379 square feet of finished space. “The main-floor office separated from the living spaces and loft retreat are perfect for a large growing family,” notes Wellstein, who describes the design style as maximalist confidence, utilizing bolder materials, richer textures and careful embellishments.
The lot release
The model home opening was also an opportunity to release new lots at The Conservancy, both singles and towns. About 30 single-family lots were released, along with at least a couple blocks of townhomes.
“We’re really celebrating an all-new lineup of single detached homes,” says Wiseman, who is excited to have buyers come through the homes to see and feel how well they’re built. “People just have to come and experience it for themselves. As the truck goes by, does the house shake? Are there squeaks as you walk? Are you feeling a hump in the floor somewhere? Quality is critical (and) we just want to showcase the homes themselves and have people come experience that first hand.”
For current pricing and hours, see our development summary.
This article ran in the Ottawa Citizen Oct. 18, 2025.
