Family-friendly housing will be the focus of a proposed development in Harewood, with 168 three and four-bedroom townhouses planned. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW))

By Jordan Davidson

family-sized units

Large family-focused south Nanaimo development given green light again

Jan 4, 2026 | 5:35 AM

NANAIMO — A substantial housing proposal in south Nanaimo had a development permit approved once again.

Located just off Fourth St. at 380 and 385 Watfield Ave, the proposal is to build 22 three-storey townhouse buildings with 168 living spaces in total, with a mix of three and four-bedroom units.

A development permit was once again approved during the Dec. 15 regular council meeting, after the original development permit, issued in July 2023, expired over the summer.

City Staff said no changes have been made to the design since then.

In its current design plan, 385 Watfield Ave. will have 142 living units, while 380 will have 26 units. (City of Nanaimo)

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The blocks of townhouses will be in a series of rows, divided by four internal drive aisles.

On-site parking will be provided with tandem two-car garages for most of the units, along with 14 surface visitor parking stalls, as well as on-street parking along Watfield Ave. upon completion of the development.

Each unit will have a private outdoor patio, along with a common outdoor amenity space on the east side of a two-storey amenity building, where it backs onto a dedicated public park.

A number of public multi-use trails will connect the area to surrounding streets, including a north-south trail along the west property line along Fourth St., and an east-west trail through the Foster St. reserve area.

The property at 380 and 385 Watfield Ave is currently vacant, and was the site of a schoolhouse, which was demolished in 1995. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

A minor building height variance was approved, increasing the height of the buildings on 380 Watfield Ave. by 50 centimetres.

This proposal is a block south of another Watfield Ave. development off Third St., with the 171-unit multi-family development already under construction.

A building permit is still required before construction can begin, with the designer also planning to make a phased strata application in the near future.

A rendering of the proposed housing development at 380 and 385 Watfield Ave. (City of Nanaimo)

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