Nanaimo, 564 Fifth St, 502 & 505 Howard Ave – Te’tuxwtun

A modern multi-story building with extensive use of glass and horizontal wooden slats on its facade.

Overview

Te’tuxwtun (pronounced Tey-tux-tun) is a proposed large-scale development of the 5.8-acre site in the Harewood neighbourhood of Nanaimo spanning the Fifth Street Corridor (564 Fifth Street, 502 and 505 Howard Avenue). Te’tuxwtun, which means “grandmother of all surrounding mountains,” is the traditional name for Mount Benson, which overlooks the community and holds an important place in Snuneymuxw culture.

The proposed development is a unique collaboration between Snuneymuxw First Nation, BC Housing, the City of Nanaimo, and Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools (known as the Knowledge Partners). Building on the diversity and values of the Knowledge Partners, Te’tuxwtun will create much-needed affordable housing, recreation facilities and accessible services while respecting the land and realizing its full potential.

Phase 1 - Project Update

Work on the first phase of the Te’tuxtwun Redevelopment Project in Nanaimo is moving forward. In December 2024, a Development Permit was submitted for the provincially owned portion of land. This Development Permit is going through a review process led by city staff.

BC Housing has an active competition underway, also known as Request for Proposal (RFP). This RFP is to find a non-profit operator to own and operate the Phase 1 housing on the provincially owned land parcel. We expect this operator to advance the Development Permit stage along with support from BC Housing and municipal staff.

Phase 1 will replace the 34 non-market rental homes which were previously on this site (called Sanala), and add 165 new rental homes across two buildings including both affordable and market rental (for a total of 199 new homes).

Phase 1 construction is expected to start in late 2026/early 2027, subject to municipal and financial approvals.

Aerial view of a town with buildings and a parking lot, surrounded by forested hills partially obscured by low-lying clouds.

Community Engagement

Connecting and Understanding

In early 2022, over 350 community members were brought into the conversation, including tenants of existing affordable housing and Harewood neighbours. Read more about the Phase 1 engagement in our Te’tuxwtun What We Heard Report (pdf).

The Te’tuxwtun Vision

In Spring 2023, the Knowledge Partners shared The Te’tuxwtun Vision and gathered feedback. This draft development concept plan was inspired by the community’s shared wisdom. The Te’tuxwtun Vision provides us with an aspirational starting point as we move through the City of Nanaimo’s approval process.

Project Vision

The Knowledge Partners shared a draft development concept plan called The Te’tuxwtun Vision (pdf) in 2023. This document was informed by significant local engagement and is inspired by the community’s shared wisdom.

The early draft design focusses on:

  • Publicly accessible open space: a central outdoor courtyard for planned and unplanned activities.
  • Rental housing: both non-market and market rentals.
  • Underground parking: for both residents and visitors.
  • Traffic calming: potential upgrades to Howard Avenue that propose traffic-slowing measures, more street parking, and the option to be closed off for major community events.

We welcome questions by email to communityrelations@bchousing.org.


Overview

Te’tuxwtun (pronounced Tey-tux-tun) is a proposed large-scale development of the 5.8-acre site in the Harewood neighbourhood of Nanaimo spanning the Fifth Street Corridor (564 Fifth Street, 502 and 505 Howard Avenue). Te’tuxwtun, which means “grandmother of all surrounding mountains,” is the traditional name for Mount Benson, which overlooks the community and holds an important place in Snuneymuxw culture.

The proposed development is a unique collaboration between Snuneymuxw First Nation, BC Housing, the City of Nanaimo, and Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools (known as the Knowledge Partners). Building on the diversity and values of the Knowledge Partners, Te’tuxwtun will create much-needed affordable housing, recreation facilities and accessible services while respecting the land and realizing its full potential.

Phase 1 - Project Update

Work on the first phase of the Te’tuxtwun Redevelopment Project in Nanaimo is moving forward. In December 2024, a Development Permit was submitted for the provincially owned portion of land. This Development Permit is going through a review process led by city staff.

BC Housing has an active competition underway, also known as Request for Proposal (RFP). This RFP is to find a non-profit operator to own and operate the Phase 1 housing on the provincially owned land parcel. We expect this operator to advance the Development Permit stage along with support from BC Housing and municipal staff.

Phase 1 will replace the 34 non-market rental homes which were previously on this site (called Sanala), and add 165 new rental homes across two buildings including both affordable and market rental (for a total of 199 new homes).

Phase 1 construction is expected to start in late 2026/early 2027, subject to municipal and financial approvals.

Aerial view of a town with buildings and a parking lot, surrounded by forested hills partially obscured by low-lying clouds.

Community Engagement

Connecting and Understanding

In early 2022, over 350 community members were brought into the conversation, including tenants of existing affordable housing and Harewood neighbours. Read more about the Phase 1 engagement in our Te’tuxwtun What We Heard Report (pdf).

The Te’tuxwtun Vision

In Spring 2023, the Knowledge Partners shared The Te’tuxwtun Vision and gathered feedback. This draft development concept plan was inspired by the community’s shared wisdom. The Te’tuxwtun Vision provides us with an aspirational starting point as we move through the City of Nanaimo’s approval process.

Project Vision

The Knowledge Partners shared a draft development concept plan called The Te’tuxwtun Vision (pdf) in 2023. This document was informed by significant local engagement and is inspired by the community’s shared wisdom.

The early draft design focusses on:

  • Publicly accessible open space: a central outdoor courtyard for planned and unplanned activities.
  • Rental housing: both non-market and market rentals.
  • Underground parking: for both residents and visitors.
  • Traffic calming: potential upgrades to Howard Avenue that propose traffic-slowing measures, more street parking, and the option to be closed off for major community events.

We welcome questions by email to communityrelations@bchousing.org.