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 in the Old City
You can see current listings below, or use this link to read more about the Old City below.
Old City Property Listings
New
$999,999
38 Front St Th16, Nanaimo
3
Beds
3
Baths
1,855 SqFt
872 SqFt Lot
Row/Townhouse
MLS® # 980067
Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty (NanIsHwyN)
New
$419,900
555 Franklyn St 205, Nanaimo
2
Beds
2
Baths
964 SqFt
0 SqFt Lot
Condo Apartment
MLS® # 980093
RE/MAX of Nanaimo
Open House
$427,500
38 Front St 407, Nanaimo
1
Bed
1
Bath
743 SqFt
0 SqFt Lot
Condo Apartment
MLS® # 979365
Oakwyn Realty Ltd. (NA)
New
Open House
$349,999
481 Kennedy St 402, Nanaimo
2
Beds
1
Bath
751 SqFt
872 SqFt Lot
Condo Apartment
MLS® # 979542
Team 3000 Realty Ltd
$799,999
38 Front St 1302, Nanaimo
2
Beds
2
Baths
1,075 SqFt
0 SqFt Lot
Condo Apartment
MLS® # 971284
RE/MAX of Nanaimo
New
$419,000
973 Hecate St 4, Nanaimo
3
Beds
3
Baths
1,334 SqFt
0 SqFt Lot
Row/Townhouse
MLS® # 979949
460 Realty Inc. (NA)
$650,000
510 Prideaux St, Nanaimo
2
Beds
2
Baths
3,200 SqFt
6,534 SqFt Lot
Other
MLS® # 972071
RE/MAX of Nanaimo
New
$339,900
481 Kennedy St 307, Nanaimo
2
Beds
1
Bath
827 SqFt
0 SqFt Lot
Condo Apartment
MLS® # 979699
Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty (NanIsHwyN)
New
$1,499,000
351 Wesley St, Nanaimo
2
Beds
2
Baths
1,135 SqFt
5,228 SqFt Lot
Single Family Detached
MLS® # 979397
RE/MAX of Nanaimo
New
$499,000
212 Fry St, Nanaimo
0
Beds
0
Baths
0 SqFt
8,277 SqFt Lot
Land
MLS® # 979533
RE/MAX of Nanaimo
New
$499,000
218 Fry St, Nanaimo
0
Beds
0
Baths
0 SqFt
8,712 SqFt Lot
Land
MLS® # 979530
RE/MAX of Nanaimo
New
$998,000
212&218 Fry St, Nanaimo
0
Beds
0
Baths
0 SqFt
16,989 SqFt Lot
Land
MLS® # 979528
RE/MAX of Nanaimo
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
Milton/Prideaux Multi-Use
Address: 345 Prideaux Street & 390 Milton Street
This location is between Prideaux and Milton Streets, near Franklyn St. It was a cool rooming house built in 1910 but it has seen better days, so I'm not surprised the newest owner is planning to re-develop. The City has just approved the development permit for a 3-storey building with 14 dwelling units and a small restaurant space, as well as an elevator.
I'm guessing the units will be small, because there is not much parking. It also isn't clear yet whether this will be a strata, or kept as rental units.
501 Prideaux
A development application was approved in early 2023 for a 3-storey condo building with 24 units and must begin construction by Jan 2025 or the permit will expire.
The location is the corner of Albert and Prideaux Streets (Old City), where there has been a vacant lot for as long as I can remember, with various U-Haul trailers among other stored equipment.
I'm optimistic about seeing more density in that area, and more shoppers for the "Superette" bodega across the tracks!
Kennedy St Live/Work Townhomes
Four townhomes (two of them detached) with live/work spaces are planned for 540 Kennedy St - there is a 1910-built home there currently. The location is between Albert and Hecate Streets (see location map below).
At the front of the complex there will be two detached townhomes, side by side, with a pedestrian lane between them. At the back will be a pair of townhomes attached like a duplex, with 10 parking spaces underneath. These two units may have ocean views, depending on whatever construction eventually happens on the vacant lot to the north.
The development permit application was approved in February 2023, which means it expires in Feb 2025 if construction hasn't started by then.
Victoria Rd Live/Work Fourplex
Sunporch Homes is a prolific local builder who's been re-developing individual lots around South Nanaimo for several years, with a good track record.
Their plan for this lot at 223 Victoria Rd is a fourplex that has one live/work space and three residential units. Although there are four units, the builder got permission from the City to include only 3 parking spaces onsite, since the lot is so small. There is not a great street parking situation there, so I am hopeful they'll find residents who don't have cars!
They made this development permit application at the end of 2021 and the permit granted by the City will expire in January 2025 if construction hasn't started.
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