Parkdale Collective in Hintonburg, Richcraft’s gleaming new rental tower close to downtown, is well named. After all, a collective is a group, and the 31-storey, 279-unit tower just north of Scott Street is all about forging community both within the building and with the surrounding neighbourhood.
Loaded with connection-making amenities and boasting panoramic views from many of the units, this is Richcraft’s first venture into high-rise rentals. The company has numerous low-rise rental projects along with its downtown condo and suburban developments, but with Parkdale and its upcoming Centrepointe rental complex in Nepean, Richcraft has secured a foothold in the high-rise rental market.
The price of a new-build home is beyond the reach of many would-be buyers, and the purpose-built rental market in Ottawa and other centres has exploded accordingly: a clear sign that builders have broadened their focus in response to market conditions. But would-be renters expect more for their money than just a place to hang their hat, and a high-rise tower loaded with extras, boasting a distinct, communal personality and well-connected to a vibrant neighbourhood can offer that.
“It gives that lifestyle,” says Shawn Bellman, Richcraft’s director of marketing, during a launch-day tour of the building. “People want the amenities, they want the features, they want to have a gym and not be paying extra for it.”
Those amenities — a sprawling gym flooded with daylight and packed with exercise equipment, a rooftop outdoor pool with a poolside grilling station, a ping-pong room, a yoga room, and more — are designed not only to meet tenants’ fitness and relaxation goals but to foster a communal vibe through the shared social spaces.
Bridges to the neighbourhood
Richcraft is also creating bridges to link tenants and the neighbourhood, Bellman explains.
“People want to be in the spaces they love — you have to mesh the neighbourhood and the building. It can’t just be a building.”
Saturday morning coffee and donuts, yoga in the park, engagement with the local arts community (the cheerful murals in the brightly lit parking garage and artwork elsewhere in the building are the handiwork of local artists): these are all part of what Richcraft is trying out as ways of connecting tenants with each other and with the neighbourhood, which is rich with boutiques, restaurants and other urban attractions.
Opening remarks at the launch by some of Richcraft’s senior leaders underscored those goals.
“Our family is delighted to unveil a new rental experience with the launch of Parkdale Collective,” said executive vice-president Monica Singhal. “With a strong focus on design, community, and nurturing connections, we look forward to becoming an essential part of this lively and welcoming neighbourhood.”
Added Richcraft CEO, Steve Grandmont, “This building represents more than just a new address — it’s a reflection of the values that shape this neighbourhood: creativity, diversity, and a deep sense of connection. With Parkdale Collective, we set out to create not only beautiful spaces, but somewhere residents feel rooted, inspired, and part of something meaningful.”
Parkdale’s resident experience co-ordinator, Kathy Foley, is the point person for those connections. Among her many tenant-focused responsibilities, “I build that community within the building and do the outreach to the community,” says Foley.
She is an enthusiastic advocate for that building-community connection. “We have a lot of local vendors in the area and we’re close to the Parkdale Market,” she points out. “We have the Parkdale community garden just down the street, and our staff goes there once a week — we’re donating all the food in the garden to food banks.”
The suites and more
Thanks in part, no doubt, to that community feel and the host of other goodies at Parkdale — a bike maintenance station (there were already 20 bikes in the storage area on launch day), heated ski lockers (the heat helps dry equipment thoroughly and ensure it’s ready to go on ski days), EV charging stations, an app-powered car-sharing program, and more — the building is already 20 per cent occupied. Residents, says Foley, cover the gamut from young professionals and students to downsizers and a couple of small families.
Parkdale Collective’s condominium-style units, which range from 482 to 1,152 square feet, are bright with nine-foot ceilings, feature European-style kitchens with quartz countertops, and include kitchen appliances, oversized washers and dryers, and solar blinds.
The five model suites have been furnished in contemporary fashion to highlight the units’ efficient design, airiness and, especially for the upper-level apartments, some breathtaking views of the Ottawa River and environs.
Take virtual tours of several suites at Parkdale Collective in Hintonburg
Units like the Pinhey model suite offer wraparound balconies while the Deschenes model suite has a double balcony.
There are more than 30 floor plans at Parkdale Collective, including one bedroom, one-bedroom + den, and two-bedroom units. Rents start at $1,800 per month.
The tower is close to the Tunney’s Pasture LRT station and, like all Richcraft rental communities, Parkdale Collective is pet friendly.
Anyone registering for a tour of the building during June has a chance of winning a Canadian-made e-bike from Ottawa’s Quick Cranks bike shop.
For more, including leasing hours, see our rental profile of Parkdale Collective.
