Below are general descriptions of Nanaimo’s neighbourhoods as defined by our local Real Estate Board.

Old City – surrounds the downtown and harbour area and up Fitzwilliam Street to St. Peters Catholic Church. Our downtown is currently undergoing a vibrant revitalization. We have a new convention centre; a new museum is being built along with a new high rise hotel, all to compliment the Port Theatre and many heritage shops and restaurants.
There are interesting choices in housing including waterfront condos, heritage-style homes from the turn of the century, and classic style homes from the 40’s & 50’s.

South Nanaimo – This area is becoming known as the University District and is the home of our newly named Vancouver Island University, Malaspina campus. It is also the home of our aquatic centre and ice arenas. Longtime locals know the area as Harewood and our grand parents called it the “5 acres”. Next to the Old City, it was one of the first areas developed for housing in Nanaimo. It is the area with the most turn over in home ownership, mostly because of its affordability factor, being the least expensive part of town. Rentals are popular in this area, offering housing for the University, and lower income families. Saying that, there has been a great influx of new families to the area giving this older neighbourhood new life.

Central Nanaimo – Also known as the Hospital district, this area is wide spread and includes the Brechin Hill area above Newcastle Channel which offers gorgeous views of Departure Bay and Harbour area, Forest Park and Townsite neighbourhoods which are close to the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and were neighbourhoods built between the mid 1940’s through to the mid 1960’s. The homes tend to be primarily single family residences, many with basement suites, and there are also town homes, condos, and duplexes in these areas as well as a good choice of apartment rentals. Pryde Vista Golf Course is a public 9 hole course near the Millstone River and close to Bowen Park, which are all located in this area.

Cedar – This is a vast area of rural and suburban properties, just outside of the Nanaimo City limits, to the south. There are still many farms and acreages in Cedar and there are some very distinct neighbourhoods, including Cedar by the Sea, which is a hillside area that slopes to the ocean and has a wonderful array of housing choices, from rustic country style to west coast and luxury waterfronts. There is a public boat ramp for local use. The area to the south of here, stretching along the waterfront is known as Yellow Point, and is the home of many resorts and camping areas. The Village area of Cedar is the centre of local activity with shopping, banking, restaurants (including the locally famous Mahle House) and pubs (The Wheatsheaf and English pub the Crow and Gate) Hemer Park is close by and the Hemer area has been newly developed with many one acre properties with lovely country homes. There are also some great swimming sites along the Nanaimo River and campsites on Quennell Lake. The area is also home to many artists and galleries, such as the Barton Leier Gallery and Garden. North Cedar has a new fire hall and homes in this area are on the Cedar Community Water system. Outside of this part of Cedar, the rest of the neighbourhoods rely on their own personal wells, and all homes here are on septic systems.

Chase River – Another very large area of primarily rural properties, with the exception of a few suburban neighbourhoods such as Cinnabar Valley, which was first subdivided in the early 70’s and is still being developed today with new areas such as Country Hills. These neighbourhoods are on city services and feature primarily single family homes. This area has a newer elementary school, opened within the last 10 years, to accommodate the many new families moving to this lovely area. Located just south of the downtown area of Nanaimo and to the south west of highway 19, Chase River stretches south all the way to the town of Ladysmith and includes areas known as Extension, which was primarily a coal mining area in the early 1900’s, and South Wellington. These areas are on wells and septic services and have a more rural feel.

Jinglepot – There are many stories on how this area first became known as “Jinglepot” and they all date back to the coal mining days of the area in the first few decades of the 1900’s. It was something to do with tossing a coin in the Jingle Pot. The area stretches along the foothills of Mt. Benson in the west of the city and is largely peaceful and rural.
There are many newer neighbourhoods springing up from the subdivided farms, such as Shady Mile, Benson Meadows and RockRidge, all with gorgeous modern homes on lots that vary from modest city size to one to five acres. Prices can vary vastly. Cather’s Lake is a lovely subdivision circling around a man-made lake, and College Heights soars above the city with stunning panoramic views, and many upscale homes. Westwood Lake is also in the Jinglepot area and is a wonderful swimming lake and park, with walking trails all around it.

Divers Lake -  This is primarily an affordable area of single family homes and duplexes, developed in the 1960’s, and more recently some new areas have been subdivided and modestly priced single family homes are being built. Coal Tyee Elementary School was constructed in the 1990’s to accommodate the newer families moving to this area.

Pleasant Valley – Originally a rural farm area circling around Brannen Lake, Pleasant Valley has grown to be a mixture of urban retirement living and family oriented neighbourhoods. It is a popular area because of its location, close to the north Nanaimo shopping area of Woodgrove Mall and easy access to highways 19 and 19A.

Uplands – First developed in the 60’s & 70’s, Uplands has become one of Nanaimo’s most popular areas, both because of its affordability and its location, close to the shopping areas of Country Club Mall and North Nanaimo Town Centre (formerly Rutherford Mall ) and also close to Hammond Bay and North Nanaimo, where some of our most exclusive and expensive neighbourhoods are. There’s a great selection of townhomes, patio homes and condos in the Uplands area. The Sunshine Ridge neighbourhood was developed within the last 10 years and offers some newer homes and half duplexes, and Long Lake Heights is a bare land strata on a hillside overlooking Long Lake, with many modern style west coast homes.

Hammond Bay – This area is located between Departure Bay and North Nanaimo and follows the shoreline to the east and north of the city. There is a mixture of older stately homes (many with ocean views facing Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast), waterfront estates in areas such as Piper’s Lagoon, and newer modern homes on the hillside of Oakridge Estates. There are two fabulous parks to note in the Hammond Bay area. Piper’s Lagoon is a wonderful park, great for watching the wind surfers, and artists are famous for their paintings of Shack Island here. Almost next door is Neck Point Park with its walking trails and spectacular scenery along the coast line.

North Nanaimo – As the name states, this area is the most northern in the city and borders on the Lantzville area to the north. The neighbourhoods here slope from the top of Lost Lake Road all the way down to the ocean and Hammond Bay Road is the main artery, flowing to the intersection at highway 19A, where Woodgrove Centre and other big box shopping is located. The neighbourhoods are very urban and scenic, and there is a broad selection of housing. The majority of new construction in the past two decades has been in North Nanaimo, and homes and condominiums are always in demand in this area. As you can imagine, this area hosts some of the most expensive and exclusive homes in the Nanaimo area. There are certainly some modestly priced homes as well, but they usually sell quickly when offered on the market. And of course the ocean views here are spectacular, primarily facing north and to the Sunshine Coast and Winchelsea Islands. Cruise ship watching as they pass on their journeys to Alaska in the summer months is a pastime for many local residents.

Upper and Lower Lantzville – These communities are no longer part of the City of Nanaimo and are now incorporated with their own city council. Highway 19 separates upper Lantzville from lower Lantzville. Lower Lantzville is a seaside community, reminiscent of parts of England, and it has a wonderful village centre with an historical pub, restaurants and eclectic shops. Many artists dwell in the area and sell their wares from their homes. The area has a country feel and being an older neighbourhood, the greenery is lush and mature and Lantzville Road is more like a country lane than the main artery through the area. Built on a gentle slope towards the ocean, the homes here enjoy views of Georgia Strait, the Winchelsea Islands and Nanoose Bay. Across the highway and up the slope to Upper Lantzville, parts of the area have a more rural feel and enjoy some larger acreage. It is not uncommon to see youngsters riding their horses on the street sides. There is a wonderful 18 hole public Golf Course here (Winchelsea View)
right in the middle of the housing area. Lantzville has its own community water system and until recently all homes were on a septic system. Lantzville is in the process of adding the community to a sanitary sewer system which is being done in phases. There are some parts of Upper Lantzville that are on private wells.