Aerial view of the Sandstone project, which is expected to serve as the new gateway into south Nanaimo. (City of Nanaimo)

By Ian Holmes

Sandstone

Long-planned major south Nanaimo project hits key milestone

Jun 2, 2025 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — A transformative 2,200 home mix-use south Nanaimo development vision is at last about to transition beyond an artist’s rendering.

Vancouver-based Seacliff Properties recently submitted its first subdivision application for the long-discussed Sandstone project straddling the Trans Canada Hwy. between Cedar and Cinnabar Valley.

“It’s a critical step. It formally initiates that review process with the City of Nanaimo which has been a really important target for us to get to,” Seacliff Properties vice president Georgia Desjardins told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Initially, 10 industrial-zoned lots south of the Duke Point Hwy. will represent the first building activity for the ambitious 726-acre Sandstone plan.

Seacliff Properties’ land use vision for Sandstone (Seacliff Properties)

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It took roughly five years for Seacliff Properties to obtain a Master Plan document to guide future development, while required Official Community Plan amendments and rezoning are also in place.

Sandstone’s framework involves six distinct development areas involving a range of housing, commercial/industrial/office space, parks and trails.

A 50-acre acre Fielding Neighbourhood Centre willl serve as the urban town centre, with a mixture of commercial/institutional buildings, accompanied by 1,000 medium-density housing units, including condos.

A maximum of 1,200 more residential units, primarily single-family homes, are to be split between the Cinnabar Valley and Cedar Road neighbourhoods.

The Cedar Road neighbourhood was transferred to Snuneymuxw First Nation nearly two years ago, which includes environmentally protected land along the Nanaimo River.

Desjardins hopes construction on the first industrial units can begin by late this year, while she believes construction on Sandstone’s first homes in Cinnabar Valley can proceed next year.

“It’s a large-scale and very complex project to move this forward into construction. Our focus since the time of re-zoning has been predominantly around engineering work related to some of the key critical infrastructure work required to bring these lands online,” she said.

An employment-business precinct encompassing three areas allows for a significant injection of over three million square feet of industrial and business park floor area.

While it’s unclear when Seacliff Properties will prioritize the commercial core, Desjardins said being responsive to market demands is important.

Interested retailers are inquiring.

“That will ultimately influence the phasing plan of when we might start turning our attention to bringing area five into production.”

Seacliff Properties estimates Sandstone will generate 1,200 construction-related jobs annually during the anticipated 20-year build-out process.

Local reaction

Chase River Neighbourhood Association president Mike Parker credits Seacliff Properties for their patience and investment of millions of dollars over many years to advance the project within reach of the construction phase.

“It’s a massive project that’s going to a do a lot of things for Chase River that’s going to put it on the map…We’re pleased to see that Seacliff is moving forward with the Sandstone project.”

While their association supports Sandstone and there is a lot of excitement about what the plan means for south Nanaimo, Parker said some people are apprehensive.

“A lot of that ties into the issues of traffic being that there’s going to be one road in and one road out which is Extension Rd. right now. That will be a concern as the residential units increase on the Cinnabar side,” Parker said.

Sandstone’s Master Plan acknowledges challenges surrounding vehicular movement to and from the Chase River/Cinnabar Valley area and the need to determine future investments.

For decades, amenity-rich north Nanaimo has been a sore spot for those constantly travelling to malls and big box stores.

Parker hopes Sandstone will provide a range of stores and services that will better serve their day-to-day needs.

“We don’t know what retailers are going to come with Seacliff’s new venture, but we’re hopeful we’re going to get something that can at least cut down on some of the trips that we have.”

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