New chapter for 522 Cambridge Street South
522 Cambridge South Concept Rendering Harmony Developments WWW.INHARMONYDEVELOPMENTS.COM
522 Cambridge Street South, 1953 – 2026. PHOTO: SUE STEFKO
New chapter for 522 Cambridge Street South
By Sue Stefko
A small bungalow at 522 Cambridge Street South that was built in 1953 is poised to make way for the next Glebe Annex infill project, a proposed four-storey, 19-unit apartment building. Construction is expected to begin this year and finish next summer.
For more than seven decades, the modest white home sat quietly on one of the largest stretches of private greenspace in the Glebe Annex. Neighbours recall that the longtime owners purchased the home in the early 1980s specifically for its expansive yard, where they raised a family, tended a lush garden and created a haven for birds and wildlife.
The property’s future took a turn in the fall of 2023, when the home went on the market for the first time in four decades. The listing made it clear that bigger things were in store. Initially listed for about $1.5 million, the listing highlighted the site’s as “an exciting development opportunity” and a “golden ticket to capitalize on Ottawa’s booming urban growth,” calling on buyers to “imagine a towering edifice” on the property. However, the listing arrived at an unfortunate moment, about a year too late to catch what had been a booming market.
Ottawa’s condo and apartment market peaked in 2022, fuelled by record low interest rates, intense buyer competition and limited inventory. But conditions shifted as the Bank of Canada raised interest rates, construction costs climbed, and a wave of new condo completions added supply. Federal policy changes also cooled demand: restrictions on foreign homebuyers and international students, followed by reduced immigration targets in 2024, further slowed population growth. Since the downturn that began in 2023, condo prices have softened while rising vacancies and slower household formation have pushed average rents downward.
As a result, the property stagnated on the market for over two years, with the price dropping repeatedly until it was priced at just under a million in the summer of 2025. It finally sold in last December for a reported $925,000 to InHarmonyDevelopments.
The plan for the property is not exactly a “towering edifice” as per the initial listing but a proposal that reflects a more modest, zoning compliant approach. At 14 metres, the proposal is half a metre below the site’s maximum height, according to its R4 zoning. In fact, the developer has indicated that the project will fully comply with the zoning bylaw, meaning the development can proceed without a lengthy rezoning process.
The project’s 19 units include a mix of sizes designed to appeal to a wide range of tenants. It includes eight one bedrooms, nine two bedrooms and two studio apartments, with a total of three barrier-free units. The bottom floor provides partially abovegrade basement units. Fortunately for nearby neighbours, with no underground parking planned, no blasting is expected.
The design includes two bicycle and two vehicle parking spaces (no vehicular spaces were required) at the front of the building and 20 stacked, enclosed bicycle parking spaces at the back, aligning with the City’s shift toward sustainable transportation. The enclosed garbage storage area is also planned to be at the back of the property.
The project significantly exceeds landscaping requirements, providing 369 m² of landscaped area, which is double the minimum required. Amenity space also surpasses requirements, including a generous rooftop terrace for residents.
The proposal is led by InHarmony Developments, a realestate development and investment company active in the Ottawa-Gatineau region since 2003. The firm describes its goal as creating “sustainable real estate developments that conserve and harmonize the landscapes of the Nation’s Capital and its surroundings.” While most of its projects are in Quebec (particularly in Chelsea), the developer has recently built a rental project at 138 Forward Avenue in Westboro.
The developer has teamed up with Linebox Studio, a wellknown Ottawa-based architecture and interior design firm noted for its modern, sustainable and innovative work. Some of its highprofile projects include the Shopify headquarters, Riviera restaurant and the adaptive-reuse residential project The Slayte at 473 Albert.
The project will soon enter the site-plan stage, where city planners may request adjustments, meaning the initial design could still evolve. The coming months will show how this property’s next chapter fits into the changing fabric of the Glebe Annex.
Sue Stefko is vice president of the Glebe Annex Community Association and a regular contributor to the Glebe Report.