This is an older, one-bedroom/one-bathroom unit that is sparsely and rather oddly furnished, but it is clean and relatively comfortable. There are few decorations on the walls, but there are no marks or damage, either—the place may have been recently painted. There are wood or tile floors throughout, but just one rug at the sink in the kitchen. There is one very thin curtain in the bedroom, but it's ineffective in blocking out light.
Positive: Great panoramic view of western Gatineau (not Parliament Hill) out the living room window and some views of a little bit of downtown Ottawa out the kitchen one. The unit is on the top floor of the building, so no one is overhead. The garage is underground and is secure. Wi-fi and one large HD TV in the living room were good. The apartment is in a decent location--downtown Ottawa is about a 40-minute walk, nice on good weather days. However, since there are no restaurant or stores within walking distance, a car is recommended. The owner of the unit was kind, helpful, and accessible.
Negative: Small things such as no A/C or telephone, no overhead lights or ceiling fans, pitifully few electrical outlets, minimal kitchen supplies, and no “modern” conveniences like a dishwasher, garbage disposal, washing machine, or dryer were a little inconvenient, but not problems that couldn’t be overcome (e.g., the building has a pay laundry area in the basement). A parking charge of $10 per day was not included in the advertised price--not a big deal, but it should have been mentioned. The major problem I experienced daily was the lack of any sun-blocking curtains or drapery in the windows. The west-facing window is quite large since it also includes a small balcony--in the winter, this may be nice, but in the summer, the sun is brutal. There is no way to cover this large a window, and it was difficult to sit at the little dining table in the afternoon or early evening because of the glare and the heat that beats in. The south-facing window, also undraped, looks out at another tower of the apartment complex, so there is no privacy. There was one window in the bedroom--I put a few towels over the rod so was able to subdue the bright sun in the morning.
The views and the peace and quiet in the condo were pleasant, and I liked that my car was covered and secure in an underground garage. However, the apartment wasn’t as comfortable as it could have been, primarily due to the lack of sun-blocking window coverings.
