Nanaimo & surroundings · An area guide
Old City
A home with a little history around it.
Old City offers a different side of Nanaimo: older streets, independent businesses and the historic quarter above downtown. The appeal is in the smaller details and the possibility of making local shops and city outings part of the week. The hills and the individual street still shape how walkable any address feels.
01 · Beyond the front door
Living in Old City
Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter connects heritage streets with downtown shops, galleries and the waterfront. Character houses and newer apartments give buyers different ways to live near the city’s cultural centre.
An area guide from Gillette & Associates, Derek Gillette’s Nanaimo real estate practice.
01Heritage homes and the Old City Quarter
Buildings from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries stand alongside newer developments. Some of Nanaimo’s older homes sit on tree-lined streets with established gardens. Their appeal often lies in the proportions and details that have survived, as well as the work completed since.
A character-home search benefits from careful review of alterations, condition and maintenance needs. A newer apartment in the same area offers a different ownership experience. Compare the home itself and the street rather than assuming that every Old City address has the same character.
02Downtown and the waterfront
The Port Theatre, Nanaimo Museum, Diana Krall Plaza and the waterfront promenade are useful places to explore while getting to know downtown. Port Place provides another practical landmark. The relationship between your home and those destinations matters more than a general claim of being close to everything.
The harbour also connects Nanaimo with seaplane travel and other waterfront activity. Check current operator information when planning a journey. Brechin Hill and South Nanaimo offer nearby alternatives for buyers who want to stay connected to the downtown core.
A closer look · Local map data
Around the neighbourhood
A few places to explore around Old City. Distances are approximate straight lines from our reference point on Cavan St; walking and driving routes will be longer.
Parks & outdoors
- Pioneer Square ParkPark≈ 150 m
- Nob Hill ParkTrail≈ 150 m
- Italian Square ParkWater access≈ 150 m
- Piper ParkPark≈ 250 m
More nearby places
- McGregor ParkWater access≈ 350 m
- Lions Square ParkPark≈ 400 m
- Bastion Square ParkPark≈ 450 m
- Anchor Way ParkPark≈ 500 m
- Catherine Gisborne GardenPark≈ 500 m
- Dallas Square ParkPark≈ 500 m
- Deverill Square Gyro 2 ParkPark≈ 650 m
- Pawson Gyro ParkTrail≈ 650 m
Schools nearby
- Pauline Haarer ElementaryElementary≈ 750 m
Proximity does not establish a catchment or admission. Check a home’s school assignment with SD68 ↗
The everyday stops
- Diamond Indian CuisineFood & drink≈ 100 m
- The TerminalFood & drink≈ 100 m
- Bastion Pizza CompanyFood & drink≈ 100 m
- Nanda ChickenFood & drink≈ 100 m
More nearby places
- Central Drugs - DunsmuirEveryday services≈ 100 m
- A & WFood & drink≈ 150 m
- LunaFood & drink≈ 150 m
- Cold Front GelatoCoffee≈ 200 m
- Casino Nanaimo - The WellFood & drink≈ 200 m
- Compass Group Canada LtdFood & drink≈ 200 m
- The Breakfast NookFood & drink≈ 250 m
- Courtyard By Marriott NanaimoFood & drink≈ 250 m
Changes around you
Permits & proposals
A sample of City files near the Cavan St reference point. Open a file for its current details and documents.
A file marked active can be under review or already issued. It does not confirm that construction has started.
All City applications ↗DP001389 · ACTIVE102, 108, 112, & 118 Haliburton Street
Development Permit
The proposed development is five-storey mixed-use residential and commercial building with 79 dwelling units and one commercial retail unit.
- Submitted
- June 19, 2025
DP001391 · ACTIVE641 Milton Street
Development Permit
The proposed development is an eight-unit multi-family development (two fourplexes).
- Submitted
- July 09, 2025
DP001430 · ACTIVE501 Prideaux Street
Development Permit
The proposed development is a 21-unit multi-family residential development in a 3-storey apartment building.
- Submitted
- July 13, 2026
Checked Oct 7, 2026 · Selected places and files around one reference point, not a complete neighbourhood inventory.
Sources: City of Nanaimo and BC school data. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence – Nanaimo.
What to look for
The homes here
Character houses share the area with apartments and more recent housing. Original proportions and materials can be part of a home’s charm, while the quality of subsequent alterations matters just as much. No two older houses have quite the same story.
When comparing a house with a townhouse or apartment, consider outdoor maintenance, parking and ownership responsibilities as well as the rooms.
02 · The local market
Every neighbourhood keeps its own time
A market has a pulse the way a movement has a beat, and it differs street by street. The numbers below are read straight from the MLS® record — counted, not estimated — and refreshed through the day.
LIVE — THE HANDS KEEP NANAIMO TIME · THE INSTRUMENTS READ THE MARKET
03 · Find your place
Old City homes for sale
If Old City feels like your kind of place, start with a closer look at the homes.
Gillette & Associates
Our featured homes
From the wider market
More homes on the MLS®
Active MLS® listings · Courtesy of VIREB members · Availability can change
Find your place in Old City.
Explore all current listings and narrow the search to what matters to you.
Keep exploring