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Old City occupies Nanaimo's historic waterfront core, stretching along the harbour between the Downtown commercial district to the north and the old Millstone River estuary area to the south. Roughly bounded by the Harbourfront Walkway to the east, the shoreline cliffs and hillside streets climbing toward Wakesiah Avenue to the west, and extending from Terminal Avenue down to the southern edge of the downtown peninsula, this neighbourhood represents Nanaimo's original settlement area. It sits adjacent to the Harbourside and South End neighbourhoods, with its character-rich streets winding upward from sea level toward the Georgia Strait views above. The housing stock in Old City is notably diverse, reflecting over a century of development and ongoing transformation. The neighbourhood features a mix of historic character homes dating from the early 1900s, many perched on hillside lots with sweeping ocean vistas, alongside newer apartment buildings and contemporary townhouse developments. The streetscape blends established residential blocks with pockets of redevelopment, including multi-family complexes and conversion properties that now serve various uses from residential to office space. The current listing mix spans from duplexes and vacant land parcels ready for development to waterfront apartments and multi-family buildings, with properties averaging 2.3 bedrooms and price points ranging dramatically from under $250,000 to nearly $16 million, reflecting everything from modest condos to premium waterfront estates and commercial holdings in this evolving historic quarter.

AI-authored, reviewed by Doug LeMaire, REALTOR®. General information only — not a substitute for professional advice.