Housing, schools & nightlife needed as Nanaimo’s population landscape rapidly changing

Manhat said the shift will lead to more demand for nightlife opportunities along with schools and homes for young families.

According to census data, Nanaimo’s population was one of the fastest growing in Canada at 10.3 per cent, nearly twice the national average and well above the provincial mark of 7.6 per cent.

Areas of the central Island including Parksville, Qualicum and Ladysmith saw similar percentage growth.

It’s not just people moving to Nanaimo permanently which is helping change the population landscape.

Data collected through Telus showed the city’s population swells from roughly 100,000 people as a permanent base, to over 350,000 in peak summer months.

The numbers include those living, staying or visiting for three or more hours. It’s a new look at who is coming to Nanaimo and why they’re visiting or staying.

“A significant portion of these people are coming here from neighbouring communities,” Manhas said. “They’re accessing services and amenities in our community and this population swell has huge implications in the money that’s being spent in our community as well as the impact on our physical infrastructure.”

The pandemic affected where these new Nanaimoites are coming from, with international migration to the city nearly cut in half through 2020.

The difference however, and a factor in Nanaimo’s growing population, were more people venturing west from other provinces.

Housing new and existing Nanaimo residents continues to be a major focal point of any planning moving forward.

The 2022 State of the Nanaimo Economy report Manhas presented Monday night showed a predictable and demonstrated price increase through local real estate, but also showed Nanaimo is pacing below other comparable cities.

“Prices of new houses increased by one per cent in 2021, the prices increased…in Victoria and Vancouver was around six per cent, so certainly the new housing market didn’t accelerate in price as the existing stock,” Manhas said.

The price of a single family, detached home in Nanaimo is approximately one-third a comparable property in Vancouver and three-quarters one in Victoria.

Rental supply saw an increase in Nanaimo over the last year, however costs continue to skyrocket.

“Average rents increased in Nanaimo by 7.7 per cent in 2021 and the vacancy rate increased from one per cent to 1.6 per cent. Vacancy rates in Victoria decreased from 2.2 to one per cent and in Vancouver from 2.6 to 1.2 per cent.”

Monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Nanaimo costs an average of $1,360.

The vacancy rate for seniors independent living spaces rose to 9.1 per cent in 2021, up from 5.8 per cent the year prior, a trend seen across many provinces.

The total number of units for seniors in Central Vancouver Island, inclusive of Parksville, was 2,857 in 2021, which was an increase of just 26 from the year prior.

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by NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Housing, schools & nightlife needed as Nanaimo’s population landscape rapidly changing

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