Riverstone Place along the Millstone River is a nearly completed condo in Nanaimo's downtown area where considerable multi-family construction activity is occurring. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

building activity

Multi-family projects pace active downtown Nanaimo construction sector

Jan 7, 2021 | 5:17 AM

NANAIMO — It doesn’t take long to find a construction crew busy working away in Nanaimo, especially downtown.

Numerous active projects are infilling under-utilized properties with four-to-five storey residential buildings, according to the City’s director of development approvals Jeremy Holm.

“We’re seeing quite a bit of additional residential development that’s going to add to the vibrancy of downtown Nanaimo…to infill some key under-utilized sites,” Holm said.

He pointed to numerous active multi-family construction projects on Mill St., Albert St., Haliburton St., which will rejuvenate areas where limited new construction had occurred for years.

“We still have a lot of projects earlier in the development permit review (process) underway for some significant projects. All indications are they’re going to come forward with building permit applications.”

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Those construction ideas include plans by Telus to construct nearly 200 multi-family units on vacant property behind its building on Fitzwilliam St.

Another long range plan is aimed for the north end of the Haliburton St. area, where a developer intends to transform aging homes into more than 250 mid-rise condo dwellings.

The first offering by Parkshore Projects is a five floor, 36 unit condo nearing completion.

Not all expected projects are buzzing with construction and trades crews.

Most notably dormant is 77 Chapel St. where Holm said a building permit to construct a 24-storey, 110 condo tower lapsed.

Repeated inquires by NanaimoNewsNOW went unanswered to hear the Vancouver based developer’s intentions for the property across from the courthouse.

Holm said he’s pleased to see partnerships with senior levels of government is assisting in the construction of affordable housing options.

“There are challenges in the whole spectrum in providing affordable housing that meets different needs. Definitely the market has been responding to a component of that.”

Holm said construction permit values in Nanaimo last year exceeded the five-year average.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @reporterholmes