Rendering of what a new private seniors' housing complex on Machleary St. will look like (City of Nanaimo)

By Ian Holmes

new era

Construction starts on seniors’ housing in Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter

Feb 12, 2024 | 5:36 AM

NANAIMO — Several years after a contested housing proposal was voted down, construction has begun to erect a 145-unit seniors’ housing project.

Located at 388 Machleary St. where the former Malaspina Gardens care home stood for decades, a new era of seniors living will occupy the property bordered by Franklyn and Kennedy streets.

The City of Nanaimo awarded a building permit to Lower Mainland based Molnar Group late last year, clearing the firm to construct the project.

Construction crews recently assembled on the nearly three acre sloped property featuring downtown, waterfront and coastal mountain views.

A City staff report stated the applicant proposed a congregate housing development with common amenity areas, including a large dining hall as part of three buildings.

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Two levels of underground parking are included.

“From the Machleary St. frontage, the residential wings will present three-storey elevations and the central pavilion will present a one-storey elevation. From the Kennedy Street frontage, the residential wings will present five-storey elevations…” the staff report stated.

Rendering of Machearly St. looking east. (City of Nanaimo)

A public walkway was proposed on the north side of the property between Machleary and Kennedy streets.

Molnar Group managing director Dak Molnar told NanaimoNewsNOW that he expects construction of the independent rental living facility will be completed late in 2025.

“We’re looking at about a 22 or 23 month construction schedule,” he said.

The seniors’ housing designation aligned with the area’s zoning requirements.

In the fall of 2019 city councillors rejected three, four-storey apartment style buildings for the property, which would have amounted to 175 new homes.

The 6-3 no-vote followed an impassioned public hearing process where several local residents opposed the development, with traffic congestion and safety being a top complaint.

About two years later a development permit was awarded by Nanaimo council for the new-look project.

In 2017 the former Malaspina Gardens care home was torn down.

The property was the site of Nanaimo’s hospital.

Several construction workers are prepping 388 Machleary St. for a future seniors’ housing complex. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes