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 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 homes built a century ago.
You can see current listings below, or use this link to read more about the Old City below.
Old City Property Listings
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 the Nob Hill neighbourhood. This is directly above the Victoria Crescent part of downtown (very close to everything) and is characterized by some of the largest character homes in Nanaimo, gathered around little old Nob Hill Park, a quiet place above the fracas, with a good playground and some views of the harbour.
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.
Condos & Apartments in Downtown Nanaimo
Nearby Parks
Back to Nanaimo neighbourhoods