Ground was broken on a total of 304 housing units of all types, up 121.9 per cent from a year earlier, with both the single-detached and multi-family segments posting triple-digit gains.
“Ottawa’s stable economy continues to support the housing market against a sluggish global economy,” said CMHC senior analyst Sandra Perez Torres in a statement.
Single-detached family homes experienced the highest growth, jumping to 148 units from 63 units a year earlier.
Meanwhile, the multi-family category reported a 110.9-per-cent spike in activity to a total of 156 units, largely because of a 58.8-per-cent rise in row housing construction, to 108 units.
The apartment segment, which registered 34 starts, also played a significant role in February’s gain, as it had seen zero units started in the year-earlier period.
“Even though prices are on the rise, homeownership in Ottawa remains within reach for many households as mortgage rates remain low,” noted Ms. Perez Torres.
Gains were recorded across the majority of the nine regions in the city as well, with only the area encompassing West Carleton, Clarence-Rockland and Russell posting a small decline to 16 starts, from 17 units.
The most significant spike was seen in Cumberland, where starts grew to 102 units from 29 units. The report said construction activity in the region was split fairly evenly between single-detached homes and townhouses.
As well, the old City of Ottawa, which posted just two starts a year earlier, saw a jump to 33 units, with 26 of the 34 apartments started in the area.
The robust February activity helped year-to-date numbers rise 23.2 per cent to 675 units, CMHC said.
However, Ms. Perez Torres noted: “Although a 23-per-cent increase in housing construction is significant, the 675 year-to-date starts match the average since the turn of the century.”
