Adjacent to Cedar is the neighbourhood of Chase River. Although there are still a lot of rural properties, the neighbour has changed over the last few years with the creation of several new developments and is very much a family oriented sub-area in Nanaimo. Because of all the new activity, housing prices have started to rise, although there are still some good deals in the area.
A strong benefit to living in Chase River is that you are relatively close to Nanaimo’s South End and all the amenities, including grocery stores, restaurants and other facilities. You won’t find any ocean views in the neighbourhood; however the countryside has an allure of its own.
As Nanaimo continues to expand, most city real estate agents believe that this will be one of the next popular areas of growth. There are several schools in the area, which makes this attractive for families who want a quiet lifestyle.
Search Listings in this area by Map
Schools in the area include:
Chase River Elementary School – 1503 Cranberry Avenue, (250) 754-6983
Cinnabar Valley Elementary – 1800 Richardson Road, (250) 716-1030
John Barsby Secondary – 550 7th Street, (250) 753-8211
Nanaimo District Secondary School – 355 Wakesiah, (250) 740-2000
Parks in the area:
Chase River Estuary Park- This natural paradise is nestled at the south end of Haliburton Street. Walk, jog or hike through the 1.3 km of trails including boardwalks over wetlands, stairs and gravel trails. There are plenty of picnic tables from which to enjoy lunch while watching the wildlife around you. If you go in peak season, you may even see some Chum and Coho Salmon.
Colliery Dam Park- This Nanaimo Park has numerous mature trees surrounding two lakes and many trails that provide an opportunity to do a bit of climbing. The views here are spectacular and cultivate an inspiring spot to observe the wildlife and a great summer swimming area. At the lowest point of the lower lake enjoy watching as the water flows into the waterfall. Students can often be found here cooling off in the summer months, jumping from small cliffs into the water below.
Extenstion Ridge & The Abyss – Extension Ridge is between Harewood and Extension, in south Nanaimo. It’s marred by clearcuts, but still has beautiful spots worth visiting, including the locally famous “Abyss”, an earthquake fissure that you wouldn’t want to fall into. Extension Ridge as a whole is simply termed “The Abyss” by mountain bikers, who’ve set up some fun wooden playgrounds in the area. There are also petroglyphs, though not by the fissure.