Today’s neighbourhood feature is Pleasant Valley. I’ll let you know why I think this is a great location for families relocating to Nanaimo and all the other features that make this community great.
Pleasant Valley is a neighbourhood located in the north end of Nanaimo, mostly on the West Side of the Nanaimo Parkway which is the new highway. It surrounds Brannen Lake and the area is known for its natural beauty and recreational opportunities.
As I’ve mentioned in past videos, one of the first things you will want to consider when moving to a new city is the location. What is your lifestyle and what matters most in terms of where you will be living? Pleasant Valley is ranked highest for a quiet place to live, as well as schools and daycares, which makes it an ideal spot for families. Walkability is ranked a little lower, however, this is due to the fact that most amenities nearby are across the highway in North Nanaimo, such as Woodgrove Mall and all the other shops and restaurants I mentioned in this video. This also isn’t entirely true, however, as along Metral Drive there are excellent bike paths and sidewalks which will take you along the shops and grocery store in that area. In my opinion, the balance of having everything situated so close by but that you are tucked away from the busier side of town is a huge bonus.
Circling back to schools, Pleasant Valley Elementary is the school here located at 6201 Dunbar Road. The families I know who have kids attend school here report that they’re very happy and the school is very safe with a lovely community feel.
Another great part of this community is the Pleasant Valley Hall, which is a social center where you can rent space for different events. Looking at the calendar for the month, they offer a range of activities from Martial arts, Yoga and different dance classes!
If you’re looking for a local escape not far from home, the Black Bear Pub serves homemade Canadian cuisine with a relaxed atmosphere.
I mentioned earlier that in Pleasant Valley you will find Brennan Lake, which is a recreational lake known for its RV park and campsite. It also has a boat launch and fishing dock. So if you’re looking for a fun stay-cation with the family this is a really great option! There’s lots of wildlife to check out while you’re here as well including deer and birds of prey like owls and hawks.
Besides Brennan Lake, you are very close to the Dumont Mountain biking trails with border Pleasant Valley and North Jingle Pot. You can also hike through these trails but be mindful of the bike paths! If you want a hike with an amazing waterfall at the end, check out nearby Ammonite Falls which you can see for yourself in this video.
Pleasant Valley is a fairly new community with most builds here occurring in the 1980’s. The median sale price here for a single-family detached home over the last 90 days is $880,250 but there is also a good amount of condo buildings and townhome complexes. These sold for a median price of $530k over the last 90 days. If you’re looking at a move to Nanaimo in the near future I wouldn’t hesitate to check out the neighbourhood of Pleasent Valley and I’m always here to answer any questions you may have about this community and others!
