Adding green spaces, schools, housing and more are all being considered as part of the 25-year plan for north Nanaimo's Woodgrove area. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

complete communities

More homes, amenities and green spaces: Nanaimo plans out next 25 years of Woodgrove area

Mar 25, 2025 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — Plans are in the works to transform a bustling north Nanaimo area into a more family-friendly and possibly greener space in the next 25 years, another step in the City’s complete communities plan.

The Woodgrove Area Plan was discussed during the Monday, March 24 Governance and Priorities Committee meeting, where councillors were presented with a baseline assessment report on the current state of the area surrounding Woodgrove Centre.

City community planner Kasia Biegun said the report focused on the current and future needs in five key areas: housing, transportation, daily needs, retail, and infrastructure, and whether residents can meet all of those needs within walking or cycling distance.

“Generally, we found that the pedestrian infrastructure is a bit more robust than the cycling infrastructure…however, there’s a large gap as they’re currently no parks and open spaces, no recreation and cultural facilities, and no schools within the study area.”

(City of Nanaimo)

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Key findings of the report include:

• 568 housing units currently in the area, with potential for more, with 92 per cent in apartment-style buildings five storeys in height or less, with 57 per cent being rental units, with vast majority (92 per cent) being one and two-bedroom units.
• Interest from the development community to add approximately 3,685 housing units in the area in the future, including in the proposed Bowers District.
• General good access to public transit with improvements identified, especially for cyclists and pedestrians.
• All intersections are able to handle traffic volume at peak times.
• Low commercial vacancy rate at 3.7 per cent, with 56.8 per cent chain retailers, with 30.5 per cent local retailers, and 12.7 per cent are vacant units.
• Sanity sewer and water systems serving the area at or close to capacity.

Phase one of the public consultation process is currently underway with an online survey active since Friday, March 21 and going until Monday, April 7, with over 400 responses already received in the first three days.

Biegun said the survey is open to all residents within the City of Nanaimo and the Regional District of Nanaimo.

“We have specific questions that relate to those that live within the study area and those outside of the study area so we can understand the patterns of behaviour of people using the urban centre.”

In-person meetings with stakeholders and engaging with youth in schools near the study area will occur over the next few weeks.

Coun. Ben Geselbracht, who grew up in the area, said he’s not sure how they can make the area more attractive for families, but he’s hopeful the area can be transformed in the future.

“It could be a really amazing example of how a re-development of a mall site in that area of use from the 80s and 90s be transformed into a really livable space, but the lack of park space is one of the critical ones.”

City staff said the owner of Woodgrove Centre, Weihong Liu, is aware of the project and they’re hopeful they can work collaboratively on the area’s future success.

More information on the Woodgrove Area Plan and how to add your input can be found here on the City’s website.

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