Renderings of how an expansive Chapel St. residential project would look in downtown Nanaimo after a development permit was approved Monday night by Council. (DHK Architects)

By Alex Rawnsley

second time's the charm

‘Transformative for the downtown:’ 162-unit rental housing complex approved in Nanaimo

Dec 18, 2024 | 4:12 PM

NANAIMO — A so-called “second kick at the can” for a major rental housing development in the city’s downtown core has been given the green light.

For the second time in just under two years, Nanaimo City Councillors have granted a development permit for a six-storey, 162 unit rental apartment and townhouse complex at 77 Chapel St., across from the Nanaimo courthouse.

Greg Mitchell, senior planner and development manager with Primex Investments Ltd., told councillors on Monday, Dec. 16, they ran into several roadblocks since receiving a development permit in April 2023.

“This is our second kick at the can at this particular site, I was here a little over a year ago when we brought the first [development permit] forward. We did a deep dive and between interest rates, construction costs and very macro economic forces working against us, we weren’t able to make the strata combined with the rental project work at this time.”

A rendering of a 162-unit apartment and townhouse complex on Chapel St., as seen from Skinner St. (DHK Architects)

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Included in the 162 unit proposal are six, two-bedroom townhouse units.

Twenty-two studio apartments, 100 one-bedroom units, 29 two-bedroom apartments and five 1-bedroom live & work suites make up the project, along with a two-level underground parkade.

The expansive project would have frontages on both Skinner St. and Chapel St., with a public pathway built into the design to connect the two roadways.

A pair of public outdoor plazas are also planned.

The proposal was considered by the City’s Design Advisory Panel in September, with 13 recommendations made, mainly around colour and material choices as well as site configuration.

Some changes were made after the Panel’s feedback, including making the overall colour and texture of the project lighter, as well as addition of the pathways and pedestrian amenities on the perimeter.

Provided the building permit stage goes as planned, Mitchell said they hope to begin construction in the spring, with the project expected to take between 24 and 30 months to complete.

Primex Investments Ltd. own and operate roughly 500 rental units in multiple buildings across Nanaimo, including an under construction housing complex on Campbell St.

The main frontage of the property is on Chapel St., directly across from the Nanaimo courthouse. (DHK Architects)

Council were full of praise for the project with coun. Ben Geselbrecht calling it “transformative for the downtown”.

Coun. Janice Perrino said it’s a big win for the area.

“This will put rental units available to get people to live and work possibly in the downtown area. To go to our theatres, use the restaurants, use the cafes and for goodness sake shop in our downtown and that’s what keeps our downtown vibrant.”

A pair of parking lots on Chapel St. across from the court house are slated to be replaced by a multi-family rental housing complex. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

An privately-run parking lot currently sits on the site and will not be replaced, drawing some minor concerns from coun. Ian Thorpe.

The development permit passed unanimously, with a building permit still to be issued before construction can begin.

Plans for a skyline-changing 24-storey tower by a different developer were approved for the site in 2019, however that project didn’t advance past the building permit stage.

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