Portwood, Port Moody’s long-awaited master-planned community, has officially broken ground, marking the beginning of EDGAR Development’s ambitious $1.1 billion project. The pedestrian-oriented community will be set amid lush parkland, with nearly 70% of the 23-acre project dedicated to green space, including two parks, communal outdoor gathering places, bike paths and a 1.5 km walking trail. With plans to complete construction over the next decade, Portwood will consist of 20 buildings across five new neighbourhoods, providing strata and rental housing options for a vibrant population of an estimated 4000 people.

Transforming Port Moody

It is the first community of its kind to move forward in Port Moody since 2004, and it is set to transform the city. The venture, which will increase Port Moody’s rental housing supply by more than 50%, represents one of the provincial government’s biggest investments into affordable housing outside of Vancouver to date and is one of the largest affordable housing contributions in the city’s history.

“It’s been four years since we’ve started imagining what this community could and should look like,” says Matt McClenaghan, president at EDGAR. “We’re about to embark on many years of not just building homes but building a community.”

Breaking ground on Umbra

Umbra, the first phase of this comprehensive community to begin construction, is set to be move-in ready for new homeowners by early 2027, along with a brand new 12,300-square-foot childcare facility and a variety of neighbourhood amenities. The six-storey development, designed by Acton Ostry Architects, will consist of 219 low-carbon emission homes built around a spacious communal courtyard that seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor living. With three-bedroom concrete townhouses on the first two storeys, and one and two-bedroom woodframe condos on the upper four levels, this thoughtfully planned community presents an incredible opportunity for families and young professionals who, like many, want to put down meaningful roots but feel priced out of Vancouver. With Umbra, homeowners will have the space to thrive and grow.

Inside, each of the meticulously designed units include full-sized appliances, roomy Italian kitchens by Inform Projects, a primary bedroom with ample room for a king size bed, air conditioning and a generously sized private deck where residents can soak in their surroundings.

“We really challenged the designers and architects with our ideas for this project,” says McClenaghan, proudly. “They’ve done a great job of putting together really thoughtful, high-quality living spaces. Portwood is a great example of what a responsible, sustainable, comprehensive development should look like with all types of housing and amenities.”

Learn more about Portwood at portwood.ca

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