19 Melrose Avenue - Schoolhouse Lofts
A Francophone schoolhouse, reborn
19 Melrose Avenue — known as the Schoolhouse Lofts — is one of Ottawa's most culturally significant loft conversions. Built in 1912 as École du Sacré-Cœur, a Francophone Catholic school at the heart of Hintonburg, the building stood as a symbol of the French community's decades-long struggle for the right to educate their children in their language. Designated a heritage property in 2006, it was meticulously converted in 2009 by The Regional Group and architect Douglas Hardie, creating 12 unique hard loft suites. New windows were carefully crafted to match the originals, and the building's iconic clay-tiled canopy entrance with exposed timber rafters was fully preserved. The project won the Ottawa Architectural Conservation Awards' Award of Excellence — Adaptive Use and Infill in 2011.
Douglas Hardie Architect
A century of community, language and resilience
Few buildings in Ottawa carry the cultural weight of 19 Melrose. Designed by a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright, built to serve a Francophone community fighting for its rights, and later preserved as a living monument to that struggle — before becoming one of the city's most celebrated loft addresses.
Pricing & condo fee history
With only 12 loft suites and rare turnover, each transaction at Schoolhouse Lofts carries real significance. Sales since 2012 show consistent demand at this one-of-a-kind address — with a $860K peak achieved in 2022.
Recent sales
| Unit | Sold | List Price | Sold Price | LP/SP | Bed | Bath | Condo Fee | Taxes/yr | DOM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #201 | Jun 2025 | $749,900 | $747,500 | 99.7% | 2 | 2 | $655/mo | $6,169 | 16 | Sold |
| #104 | May 2025 | $589,900 | $589,900 | 100.0% | 1 | 1 | $590/mo | $4,600 | 9 | Sold |
| #107 | Jun 2024 | $699,900 | $711,000 | 101.6% | — | 2 | $928/mo | $5,846 | 23 | Sold |
| #204 | Jul 2023 | $699,900 | $752,000 | 107.4% | 2 | 2 | $641/mo | $6,888 | 3 | Sold |
| #5 | Nov 2022 | $569,900 | $555,000 | 97.4% | — | 1 | $522/mo | $4,145 | 55 | Sold |
| #205 | Apr 2022 | $869,900 | $860,000 | 98.9% | 2 | 2 | $703/mo | $6,553 | 4 | Sold |
| #101 | Apr 2022 | $499,900 | $499,000 | 99.8% | — | 1 | $474/mo | $4,022 | 22 | Sold |
| #203 | Mar 2021 | $499,900 | $520,000 | 104.0% | 1 | 1 | $369/mo | $3,650 | 1 | Sold |
Hintonburg, Ottawa
Melrose Avenue is a quiet residential side street just one block off Wellington Street West — putting Schoolhouse Lofts at the centre of Hintonburg's vibrant arts, food, and community scene while maintaining a genuinely neighbourhood feel.
All data sourced from MLS® historical records. Building history sourced from publicly available records including City of Ottawa heritage records. Information is provided for reference purposes only and does not constitute a representation or warranty. Condo fees, taxes, and prices are subject to change. Prospective buyers should conduct independent due diligence.