Posted on
January 6, 2026
by
Tanner Saywell
A major family-oriented townhouse development in South Nanaimo has received renewed approval from Nanaimo City Council, clearing the way for the long-planned Park & Fourth project at Watfield Avenue and Fourth Street to proceed after its original development permit expired.
The project is being developed by Strand, a Vancouver-based real estate development company with a substantial portfolio of completed and active projects across Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria. Council re-issued the development permit in December 2025, confirming that the previously approved design remains valid and aligned with the City’s current planning framework.
No substantive design changes were required as part of the renewal.
Strand Brings Proven Urban Development Experience
Strand is well established in some of British Columbia’s most competitive urban markets, with a track record that includes large-scale mixed-use, townhouse, and condominium projects in both Vancouver and Victoria. Their work typically emphasizes livability, durable design, and long-term community integration — attributes that align closely with the objectives of this South Nanaimo project.
While Park & Fourth represents a significant addition to Nanaimo’s housing supply, it fits squarely within the type of family-focused, ground-oriented development Strand has successfully delivered elsewhere in the province.
168 Family-Sized Townhomes Planned
Park & Fourth is planned as a 168-unit townhouse community consisting of 22 three-storey wood-frame buildings. Unlike many recent residential proposals that lean toward smaller condo formats, this project is intentionally focused on three- and four-bedroom homes, addressing a well-documented gap in Nanaimo’s housing mix.
Key elements of the development include:
Private patios, balconies, and yard space
Predominantly two-car tandem garages
Visitor and on-street parking
A two-storey amenity building with shared indoor and outdoor spaces
A new municipal park integrated into the site
Multi-use walking and cycling paths connecting into the surrounding neighbourhood
The site is located within Nanaimo’s University District, close to VIU, schools, parks, and daily commercial amenities.
Permit Renewal Removes Uncertainty
The renewed approval follows the expiration of the original development permit, a situation that has become increasingly common across British Columbia as market conditions slowed construction starts on otherwise approved projects.
By re-issuing the permit, council removed the need for the developer to restart the entitlement process, allowing the project to move forward without redesign. A minor height variance — approximately 50 centimetres on a portion of the site — was approved as part of the renewal.
A building permit will still be required before construction can begin.
Growing Momentum in South Nanaimo
The Park & Fourth site sits near other large multi-family projects already under construction along Watfield Avenue, reinforcing the south end’s role as a key growth area for Nanaimo. The scale and form of the project reflect the City’s broader push toward family-sized “missing middle” housing, increasing density without resorting to high-rise development.
With Strand’s experience delivering complex projects in established urban markets, Park & Fourth is positioned as a long-term addition to the neighbourhood rather than a speculative one-off.
Looking Ahead
While construction timing has not yet been announced, the renewed permit keeps one of South Nanaimo’s more substantial residential developments firmly in the active pipeline.
If built as approved, Park & Fourth would deliver a meaningful amount of family-oriented ownership housing at a time when that segment remains undersupplied in Nanaimo — supported by a developer with a proven history of executing projects at scale in Vancouver and Victoria.
Further updates are expected once the project advances to the building permit stage.
