Old City Nanaimo Real Estate

Downtown Nanaimo - also referred to as the Old City - is shaped like a half bowl. At the bottom of the bowl is the harbourfront, commercial district, and a lot of condos. Then there are about 18 city blocks of single family homes arranged on the slope of the bowl, overlooking downtown and the harbour.

It's a very convenient place to live, especially if you work downtown, or commute to Vancouver, or attend VIU, or don't want to pay for taxis back from events downtown! And of course, there are tons of beautiful old "character homes" built a century ago.

Condos & Townhomes: Stratas in the Old City

91 Chapel - Six-storey apartment condo building from 2017-2020 in downtown Nanaimo.
Akenclose - A 4-storey condo building overlooking Old Victoria Rd.
Aqua Residences - A 5-storey condo building with commonly-owned downstairs units and some rooftop decks.
Asteria Gardens - Twenty-one patio homes off Hecate St behind Kennedy St.
Cameron Island - the Newcastle - The north building at Cameron Island nearer to Newcastle Island.
Cameron Island - the Beacon - The 26-storey condo tower overlooking the harbour.
Cameron Island - the Gabriola - The south building at Cameron Island nearer to the Gabriola ferry terminal.
Cavan Place - Four-storey condo apartment building adjacent to Victoria Crescent downtown.
Channel View Manor - An early-90s 3-storey condo apartment building at Hecate and Cavan Sts.
Franklyn Heights - These 3-storey townhomes with garages are very near the train station.
Harbour Ridge Manor - An early-90s 4-storey apartment condo building at the top of Albert St.
Harbourview - A series of low-rise condo buildings, mostly in the Old City.
Harbourview Manor - A 23-unit condo building across from the train station, built in the mid-90s.
Heritage Views - Four 2-storey rowhomes at the corner of Milton and Albert Sts.
Knightsbridge - An early 90s condo building across from the train station with 15 units.
Millstone Manor - Three 1990s condo buildings with 15 units total beside the Millstream estuary.
Millstone Pointe - A mid-90s apartment condo building near the Millstream estuary.
Nob Hill Acropolis - This late-90s apartment building is close to Nob Hill Park.
Outlook (Harbourview) - A 5-storey apartment building on Haliburton St, built in 2020.
Pacific View Terraces - Built 1990-1991, this 4-storey condo apartment building is close to the fire station downtown.
Pacifica - Apartment tower and townhomes built on the site of the old Malaspina Hotel on Front St.
Prideaux Gardens - Fourteen units above commercial spaces, near the police station and train station.
Prospect (Harbourview) - A 2023-built 5-storey condo low-rise with ocean views on Haliburton St.
Rimini - Townhomes surround a gated courtyard beside the Millstream Estuary and trailway.
Riverstone Place - This 5-storey condo is right beside Barsby Park on the Millstream, near downtown.
Robins Gardens - Fourteen condo/townhome units in a 2016 build near downtown and the Hullo ferries.
Studio NA - Seventy condo units built around 2010; commercial storefront units are on the Chapel St side.
The 446 - Built in 2011, these 2-3 storey townhomes are near the top of the hill on Milton St.
The Seven - Rowhomes with live/work spaces on the ground floor for operating a business.
Vivo - Sixty-five condo units beside the E&N in downtown Nanaimo.

You can see current listings below, or use this link to read more about the Old City below.

Old City Property Listings

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New

$467,000

555 Franklyn St 316, Nanaimo

1 Bed 2 Baths 880 SqFt 0 SqFt Lot Condo Apartment MLS® # 1046516

Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty (NanIsHwyN)

New Open House

$749,900

309 Elizabeth St, Nanaimo

4 Beds 4 Baths 1,755 SqFt 2,178 SqFt Lot Single Family Detached MLS® # 1046510

HOMELAB Real Estate Group

Open House

$379,900

↓ $20,000

24 Prideaux St 206, Nanaimo

2 Beds 2 Baths 980 SqFt 872 SqFt Lot Condo Apartment MLS® # 1040139

RE/MAX First Realty (PK)

$399,000

99 Chapel St 207, Nanaimo

1 Bed 1 Bath 714 SqFt 872 SqFt Lot Condo Apartment MLS® # 1044863

RE/MAX Generation

$409,900

38 Front St 506, Nanaimo

1 Bed 1 Bath 750 SqFt 0 SqFt Lot Condo Apartment MLS® # 1044481

REMAX Professionals (NA)

$699,900

995 Franklyn St, Nanaimo

5 Beds 3 Baths 2,331 SqFt 10,019 SqFt Lot Single Family Detached MLS® # 1044751

Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty (NanIsHwyN)

$529,900

121 Pine St, Nanaimo

2 Beds 1 Bath 676 SqFt 2,178 SqFt Lot Single Family Detached MLS® # 1044689

REMAX Professionals (NA)

$650,000

91 Chapel St 607, Nanaimo

2 Beds 2 Baths 1,075 SqFt 0 SqFt Lot Condo Apartment MLS® # 1044331

460 Realty Inc. (NA)

$625,000

150 Promenade Dr 311, Nanaimo

2 Beds 2 Baths 1,180 SqFt 0 SqFt Lot Condo Apartment MLS® # 1044408

eXp Realty (NA)

$280,000

30 Cavan St 209, Nanaimo

2 Beds 1 Bath 870 SqFt 0 SqFt Lot Condo Apartment MLS® # 1044313

Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty LD

$165,000

30 Cavan St 304, Nanaimo

1 Bed 1 Bath 478 SqFt 0 SqFt Lot Condo Apartment MLS® # 1044310

Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty LD

$550,000

643 Kennedy St, Nanaimo

1 Bed 2 Baths 890 SqFt 4,792 SqFt Lot Single Family Detached MLS® # 1044016

REMAX Professionals (NA)

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Old City Real Estate Profile

First, let's clarify that the Old City referred to on this page is not to be confused with the much smaller "Old City Quarter" centered on Fitzwilliam Street. I'm referring to the "Old City" region defined by VIREB (real estate board) which is bordered by the Millstream in the north, down Pine St. to where Fifth St. meets Old Victoria, then up to Milton St., down Milton to the water, and back up to the Millstream Estuary. (See map below)

There are about 800 single-family homes in this area, the majority of which might be called "character homes" by virtue of the architectural details which survive from construction in the 1890s-1940s. These include solid old-growth timber construction, craftsman front porches with chunky pillars and wide steps, stained glass windows, complex rooflines, original wood siding, etc.

One of the highlights of the Old City is Nob Hill, directly above the Victoria Crescent part of downtown (very close to everything). It's one of the city's original residential neighbourhoods, with stately character homes originally built for doctors and mine managers. It still showcases many fine examples of period architecture, often with peekaboo ocean views. Little old Nob Hill Park is a quiet place above the bustle, with a good playground and some views of the harbour.

The Old City, like much of central and south Nanaimo, still has more than its share of down-and-out, so it's not a neighbourhood for those who don't tolerate such things. But that is slowly changing. And for many of us, this is actually a very desirable place to live! It's "artsy" and very close to things like the celebrated "Superette" bodega and downtown bars and restaurants and shopping - not to mention the ocean.

Note: Even the most desirable neighbourhoods in the Old City can be just a block away from a less desirable area. I know the area well and would be happy to discuss it with you. Contact me.

Nearby Parks

New Developments in the Old City

77 Chapel St

Robson St apartments

There is currently a parking lot at this site, 337 Robson St, behind St. Andrew's United Church in the Old City Quarter.

The plan, approved as development permit DP1289, is for a five-storey apartment building with 30 "micro-units". There will be a rooftop terrace and a parkade.

I suspect this will be a rental building and not offered for sale, because they are micro-units and there will only be 11 parking spaces in the parkade.

Request Updates

880 Hecate St townhomes

When Chinatown burned to the ground in September 1960, the "Chinese Freemasons building" at 880 Hecate St was one of only a few buildings left standing. Built in 1955, it has finally outlived its usefulness and will be replaced with a 3-4 storey building with 8 townhome units, some with rooftop decks. It seems there will be numerous outdoor parking spaces with electrical outlets for small cars.

The permit is number DP001299, authorized in early 2024.

Request Updates

532 Prideaux Street townhomes

This block of Prideaux is between Albert St and Hecate St. The development permit (DP001301) is for a 3-storey fourplex of rowhomes. Parking will be in open spaces on the common lot.

Request Updates

Franklyn St low-rise

This will be an L-shaped low-rise building of four-storeys on top of underground parking, with 55 units. The location is currently a gravel parking lot near the old Keg building and Delicado's, at the corner of Franklyn St and Robson (near City Hall).

The development permit (DP001340) was issued in August 2024. At this time it's not clear whether the units will be kept as rentals by the developer (Camargue Properties) or whether they'll be stratified and sold as condos.

Request Updates

Milton/Prideaux Multi-Use

501 Prideaux

Kennedy St Live/Work Townhomes

Victoria Rd Live/Work Fourplex

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