NEPEAN NEIGHBOURHOODS
Centrepointe, Ottawa: Homes, Amenities and Buyer Guide
Last updated: September 2026
Centrepointe, Ottawa is a planned Nepean neighbourhood built from 1984 onward between Baseline Road, Woodroffe Avenue and the rail line, around Ben Franklin Place, the Meridian Centrepointe Theatre and Centrepointe Park. It’s one of the most central neighbourhoods in Ottawa’s west end, a short walk from Algonquin College and Baseline Station, with a mix of detached homes, townhouses, terrace homes and new towers.
About 7,000 people live in Centrepointe (2021 Census). Buyers are drawn by its location, its newer housing stock compared with most of Nepean, and its walk-to-everything feel for a suburban neighbourhood. This guide covers the history, the housing, schools, transit and what to watch for when buying or selling here.
What Is Centrepointe Known For?
Centrepointe was designed to be Nepean’s “downtown.” The land was farmland purchased by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which originally intended to develop it as a demonstration of an ideal planned community. After budget cuts, CMHC sold the land, most of it to Minto, which built a range of homes from townhouses to large detached houses starting in 1984.
A civic heart at Ben Franklin Place
At the centre of the neighbourhood is Ben Franklin Place, named after Nepean’s longtime mayor. It housed Nepean’s city hall until amalgamation in 2001 and today holds City of Ottawa service offices, the Centrepointe branch of the Ottawa Public Library and the Meridian Centrepointe Theatre, one of the city’s busiest performing arts venues. The City of Ottawa Archives building sits at Tallwood Drive and Woodroffe Avenue.
A park-centred layout
Centrepointe Park is the neighbourhood’s green core, with walking paths and open space that hosts community events. Streets curve around crescents and courts, and pedestrian paths connect most pockets, including an underpass south under the rail line to Craig Henry.
Who lives here
Centrepointe has a diverse population, a notable Jewish community, and a mix of young professionals, families and long-term owners who bought in the 1980s and 1990s. Its location near Algonquin College also brings some student renters in the townhouse and apartment pockets closest to Baseline.
Centrepointe Homes: What You’ll Find
Centrepointe has roughly 1,000 detached homes, with most of the rest made up of townhouses (row houses) and terrace homes, plus a growing number of apartment and condominium units along its northern edge.
Detached homes
Detached homes in Centrepointe are mostly two-storey Minto designs from the mid-1980s to the 1990s, many with double garages, main-floor family rooms and four bedrooms. Streets such as Thornbury, Stonebriar and Strathbury have larger executive models. Compared with 1960s Nepean homes, these are younger, better insulated and more open in layout, but many are now 35 to 40 years old and due for roofs, windows and mechanical systems.
Townhouses and terrace homes
Freehold and condominium townhomes are spread throughout the neighbourhood. The Nepean Housing Corporation also operates affordable townhouses and a low-rise apartment building. In 2007, a former snow dump next to Centrepointe Park was redeveloped into about 260 townhouses, terrace homes and low-rise apartments, completed around 2011.
New towers on Centrepointe Drive and Baseline
The northern edge is changing quickly. A two-tower Richcraft project of 22 and 24 storeys at 19 Centrepointe Drive and a 15-storey rental building near Baseline Road and Constellation Drive are part of the City’s longer-term plan to intensify around Baseline Station. The City’s Centrepointe Town Centre concept anticipates significantly more residential and commercial space over time.
Price context
Centrepointe offers everything from townhouse entry points to executive detached homes. For current pricing, use recent comparable sales rather than area averages; the Ottawa Real Estate Board publishes board-wide figures, not neighbourhood averages. Browse listings on the Nepean homes for sale page.
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Schools Near Centrepointe
Centrepointe is served by English public, English Catholic and French-language schools. Catchments change, so always confirm with the school board for a specific address.
English public (OCDSB)
Families in Centrepointe have been served by Briargreen Public School, Manordale Public School and Knoxdale Public School (early French immersion), with Sir Robert Borden High School for secondary grades. Use the OCDSB school locator to confirm which school serves a given street.
English Catholic (OCSB)
The Ottawa Catholic School Board serves Centrepointe through nearby elementary schools and St. Paul and St. Pius X high schools, depending on address.
French-language and post-secondary
French-language education is available through CEPEO (public) and CECCE (Catholic). Algonquin College’s main campus is walking distance from most of the neighbourhood. Our Nepean schools guide explains how to check catchments.
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Transit, Commuting and Getting Around
Centrepointe is one of the best-connected neighbourhoods in Ottawa’s west end.
Baseline Station and the O-Train
Baseline Station, on the neighbourhood’s northeast edge next to Algonquin College, is a major bus hub and the western terminus of the O-Train extension to Algonquin College. Once rail service opens, Centrepointe residents will have a direct rail link east through Lincoln Fields toward downtown. Check OC Transpo for the current opening timeline.
Driving
Baseline Road, Woodroffe Avenue and Greenbank Road give quick access to Highway 417 to the north and Hunt Club Road to the south. Downtown Ottawa is typically 15 to 20 minutes by car outside rush hour, Kanata’s tech park about 20 minutes, and Barrhaven about 15 minutes. See our guide to commuting from Nepean.
Walking and cycling
Much of Centrepointe is walkable to College Square shopping, the library, the theatre and the park. Multi-use paths connect to Craig Henry and to the Pinecrest Creek pathway network.
Living in Centrepointe: Shopping, Recreation and Health Care
Shopping and dining
College Square at Baseline and Woodroffe covers groceries, a department store and everyday services, with more restaurants and shops along Baseline and Merivale Road. Small plazas inside the neighbourhood add convenience stores and cafés.
Recreation
Centrepointe Park, the theatre, and the library are the local anchors. The Nepean Sportsplex on Woodroffe, with pools, arenas and fitness facilities, is a short drive south, and the Ben Franklin Soccer Dome is at Knoxdale and Hunt Club. The Greenbelt trails around the Bruce Pit are about ten minutes away.
Health care
The Queensway Carleton Hospital is about five minutes’ drive west on Baseline, which is a real draw for downsizers and families alike.
Who Centrepointe suits
Centrepointe works well for professionals who want a short commute, families who want a detached home near schools and parks, and downsizers who want a townhouse or condo near transit, the hospital and the theatre. If you’re downsizing from a larger Nepean home, see our guide to downsizing in Nepean.
Living Near Algonquin College and Baseline Station
Centrepointe’s location next to Algonquin College’s main campus and one of the west end’s busiest transit hubs shapes daily life, and it cuts both ways.
The upsides
- Transit and walkability. Few Nepean neighbourhoods let you walk to a major transit station, a college campus, a library, a theatre and a shopping centre.
- Rental demand. Townhouses and condos near Baseline attract students, college staff and young professionals, which supports rental demand for investors and resale demand for owners.
- Future value. Higher-density development around stations tends to bring more services and amenities over time.
The tradeoffs
- Traffic and noise. Baseline Road and Woodroffe Avenue are busy, and homes closest to them hear it.
- Parking. Streets nearest the college can see more on-street parking pressure during the school year.
- Construction. New towers mean years of construction activity on the north side of the neighbourhood.
Where to look
If you want quiet, focus on the interior crescents and courts closer to Centrepointe Park and the southern edge near the rail line. If you want walkability or rental potential, look closer to Baseline. Jason can help you weigh the two for your situation.
Buying or Selling in Centrepointe: What to Know
For buyers
- Check the age of major systems. Many 1980s homes are on their second roof and furnace, or due for them. Ask for receipts.
- Understand the condo. Many townhomes are part of condominium corporations. Review the status certificate, reserve fund and upcoming special assessments with your lawyer; the Condominium Authority of Ontario explains your rights.
- Consider the towers. New high-rise construction near Baseline Station will change traffic and views for some streets, and may add value to homes close to transit.
- Confirm school catchments for the specific address.
For sellers
Centrepointe buyers compare homes on condition, lot, layout and distance to the park and transit. Presentation matters, and pricing should be based on recent sales of the same housing type. Learn what your home is worth or read how Jason works on the Nepean REALTOR® page.
Nearby neighbourhoods to compare
If Centrepointe is on your list, also look at Craig Henry to the south and Briargreen and Leslie Park to the west. For the bigger picture, start with our Nepean neighbourhood guide.
How Jason Polonski Helps Centrepointe Buyers and Sellers
Jason Polonski is a REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty with more than 15 years of experience in Ottawa’s west end, a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in Marketing and Finance from Concordia University, and a construction and electrical trades background. In Centrepointe, where many homes are reaching the age for roofs, windows and mechanical replacements, he helps buyers see what’s due and helps sellers decide which updates actually pay back.
As a move coordinator, he lines up your sale and purchase so you don’t carry two homes, and offers a 1% Listing Commission, charged on the final sold price. His recognition includes the Chairman’s Club (2025, 2021) and Best in Ottawa Top REALTOR® seven years running. Learn more about Jason or read his reviews on Google.
Frequently Asked Questions
Centrepointe is in the former City of Nepean in Ottawa’s west end. It’s roughly bounded by Baseline Road to the north, Woodroffe Avenue to the east, the rail line to the south, and Briargreen to the west.
Centrepointe was developed from 1984 onward, mostly by Minto on land originally assembled by CMHC. Infill and high-rise construction have continued since, including new towers near Baseline Station.
Many buyers like Centrepointe for its central location, parks, theatre, library, proximity to Algonquin College and the Queensway Carleton Hospital, and newer housing compared with most of Nepean. Traffic along Baseline and Woodroffe and ongoing intensification are the main tradeoffs.
Centrepointe has about 1,000 detached homes, plus townhouses, terrace homes, low-rise apartments and new high-rise buildings along Centrepointe Drive and Baseline Road.
Yes. Baseline Station, at the northeast corner of the neighbourhood, is on the O-Train extension to Algonquin College. Check OC Transpo for the current opening date.
Centrepointe is in College Ward in the City of Ottawa.
