Units now available for sale and rent, see below.
Choose a topic by clicking on it:
- Our Project: Pacific Gardens
- Our Mission
- Our Vision
- What’s in Our Common House…
- Floor Plans
- Selection of Units
- Built Green
Our Project: Pacific Gardens
In September 2009, construction of our 25 unit apartment-style cohousing project was completed on a gorgeous 4.37 acre parcel of land in the Harewood District of the City of Nanaimo, located in central Vancouver Island on the west coast of beautiful British Columbia, Canada.
There is a good mix of 1, 2, 3 and 3 bedroom + den units, which range in size from 711 square feet to 1550 square feet. Each unit opens onto the glass-roofed atrium, which leads to an extensive (8,000+ sq. ft.) Common House.
The Common House boasts a large kitchen and adjacent dining/activity hall with a children’s play area as well as other activity-based spaces such as teen activity room, wet crafts room, music/meditation room. There also are an office, elevator, woodworking shop, laundry, office, guest rooms, and storage rooms.
The property has lots of space with considerable natural flora and fauna, a salmon-bearing stream and park to the south, a seasonal pond, and a westward view of Mount Benson. Vancouver Island has the longest growing season in Canada, and we have already established organic gardening on the site. Once an old farm, it still has numerous producing fruit trees.
Founding members of this community agreed to make this a ‘green’ project by adhering closely to LEED Guidelines in an attempt to make the construction, occupation, and maintenance of this property as ecologically respectful as possible.
The following Green Features have been incorporated
- Heat pumps in the common areas
- High insulation value
- Use of products that have low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and minimal off-gassing
- Onsite storm water management
- Organic orchards and gardens
- Infloor radiant heating in the Atrium
- Thermally efficient roofs, walls and windows
- Involvement in the Cooperative Auto Network
- Designated bicycle storage and recycling area
- Glass-covered indoor pedestrian walkway
- Common laundry room with energy-efficient appliances as well as in-suite hookups
- Compact flourescent lighting
*Click on thumnail to view full size.
The Beautiful Chase River
A Tour Of The Land
Our Mission
To establish a sustainable cohousing community in Nanaimo, which successfully embodies the principles of community, cooperation, consensus and respect.
Our Vision
Pacific Gardens is an inclusive community celebrating a connection to nature and social action in a sharing, caring and cooperative environment.
What’s in Our Common House…
The Common House is on three levels with a walkout patio and an upper deck. From the Common House there is a beautiful view of Mount Benson and summer sunsets. There is an elevator for easy access to all levels.
The main level has a large kitchen with a pantry, a dining room/meeting hall, children’s playroom, teen room, an office, an exercise room, a soundproof multi-purpose room, wheelchair-accessible washroom and a laundry room with multiple laundry facilities. The dining room leads to a large patio facing Mount Benson and the organic gardens.
The lower level has a large storage room with bicycle storage, private storage units, a workshop, and a recycling room. There is a washing area for gardeners to clean vegetables as well as a garden shed on site.
The upper level has two guestrooms, a washroom, a wet craft room, a multipurpose room and a conversation lounge leading to a deck with an amazing view of Mount Benson.
Floor Plans
View 3-D Model with Google Earth!
Click Here to Download and View with Google Earth
Click Here to view Google Earth Directions
* You must have Google Earth Installed on your computer.
* Click here to install Google Earth.
Download Floor Plans
* Right Click (Save Target As) on the floor plan icons to Download.
View Floor Plans of Available Units
* Click on the floor plan links to view full size.
* Documents are provided in Microsoft Word Format.
#202 – Two Bedroom unit [ download ]
#302 – Two Bedroom unit [ download ]
#310 – Two Bedroom unit [ download ]
#208 – Two Bedroom w/den [ download ]
#304 – Two Bedroom w/den [ download ]
#308 – Two Bedroom w/den [ download ]
#201 – Three Bedroom w/den [ download upper ] [ lower ]
#203 – Three Bedroom w/den [ download upper ] [ lower ]
#205 – Three Bedroom w/den [ download upper ] [ lower ]
#207 – Three Bedroom w/den [ download upper ] [ lower ]
#209 – Three Bedroom w/den [ download upper ] [ lower ]
Available Units For Sale or Rent
One Bedroom
None at present.
One Bedroom with Den
One available, $360,000.
Two Bedroom
One available, $380,000
Two Bedroom with Den
One available, $443,000.
Three Bedroom
None at present.
Three Bedroom with Den
Two available, $500,000.
Pacific Gardens Cohousing has received approval as a Built Green™ project, only the second one of its size in British Columbia.
Built Green™ adds value to new home construction by promoting and recognizing the use of practices and products that represents resource-efficient and environmentally friendly construction.
The primary purpose of Built Green™ is to encourage homebuilders to use technologies, products and practices that will:
- Provide greater energy efficiency and reduce pollution
- Provide healthier indoor air
- Reduce water usage
- Preserve natural resources
- Improve durability and reduce maintenance
The program concentrates on four areas of environmental concern:
- Energy Efficiency
- Indoor Air Quality
- Resource Use (including Waste Management)
- Overall Environmental Impact