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June 19, 2026

Portwood is Taking Shape

A Construction Update on EDGAR Development's Port Moody Community

Construction at Portwood, EDGAR Development’s 23-acre master-planned community in Port Moody, has reached a major milestone. Phases 1 and 2 are now topped out with substantial structural completion achieved, and the focus has turned toward its anticipated 2027 completion.

For the families who have already purchased homes here, that milestone means the wait is nearly over.

Phase 1: The Creek — Affordable Housing Taking Form

Phase 1, The Creek, is an affordable housing development comprising three 6-storey wood frame buildings that will deliver over 325 rental homes for seniors, Indigenous people and working families. Developed in partnership with BC Housing, The Creek represents one of the largest affordable housing investments in Port Moody’s recent history. Interior finishing work is now underway, with completion anticipated in 2027.

Phase 2: Umbra — Port Moody’s Most Anticipated New Address

Umbra features over 200 condominium and townhome units. With 80 percent of homes sold, hard hat tours are now available for buyers and prospective purchasers through the on-site presentation centre.

Designed by Acton Ostry Architects and built by Axiom Builders, Umbra blends Scandinavian simplicity with West Coast character. EDGAR has invested in higher-quality soundproofing for the townhomes and durable metal roofing. Inside, buyers choose between light and dark-toned palettes, with imported Italian kitchens by Inform Projects, air conditioning, and private decks overlooking Port Moody’s natural surroundings.

Why Buyers Are Choosing Portwood

The best account of what Portwood means to the people buying here comes from the buyers themselves. BC Business recently profiled two of them, and their stories capture what EDGAR set out to build.

Gabriel Grzybowski and his wife Elizabeth were living in a one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver when they started looking for more space to work from home and start a family. They weren’t initially considering Port Moody. A friend referred them to Portwood, and after touring other developments in Vancouver and North Vancouver, they purchased a three-bedroom concrete townhome in Umbra.

“For the price point, this is a very good opportunity,” Grzybowski told BC Business. “It’s kind of like its own little community within Port Moody. Where we are right now in Vancouver is super busy and loud. It’s going to be quite a bit quieter, which will be nice.”

Kara McCann’s story is different but equally telling. She lives in the U.S. and is planning to return to Canada when she retires to be closer to her mother, who is in her 80s and lives in Port Moody. She purchased a one-bedroom unit on the same floor as her mother’s unit, a top-floor apartment with vaulted ceilings and a balcony.

“I wanted her to have access to whatever she might need without having to drive somewhere,” McCann said. “My mom and I both wanted a place surrounded by nature, with more of a rural feel than a city feel.”

Of the design, she added: “I love the natural, biophilic feel to the exterior, and the beautiful cabinetry and colour schemes on the interior. I just thought it was very thoughtfully and beautifully done.”

Read the full BC Business feature here: EDGAR Development’s anticipated Port Moody community to welcome its first residents this year

What Makes Portwood Different

Portwood is not a single building; it is a complete neighbourhood, and that distinction matters.

Nearly 70 percent of the 23-acre site is dedicated to green space, including two parks, bike paths, communal outdoor gathering areas, and a 1.5-kilometre walking trail. The community also features a 12,300 square foot childcare facility, café, and boutique retail.

Critically, EDGAR is building out community amenities immediately, so Portwood’s first residents have access to the outdoor courtyard, gym, children’s playroom, and social lounge from day one.

The full Portwood development will ultimately include approximately 2,000 homes across 20 buildings ranging from 6 to 19 storeys, with a mix of strata ownership, market rental, and below-market rental housing. It is the first master-planned community to begin construction in Port Moody in over a decade.

The Team Behind Portwood

A project of this scale requires an exceptional team. EDGAR Development extends its thanks to the full project team whose expertise and commitment have brought Portwood to this point:

  • Acton Ostry Architects — Architecture and design
  • Axiom Builders — General contractor
  • AES Engineering Ltd — Engineering
  • TD Systems Ltd — Systems
  • Binnie — Civil engineering
  • Thorson Consulting Certified Professionals — Consulting
  • GeoPacific Consultants Ltd. — Geotechnical
  • BKL Consultants Ltd. — Building envelope
  • PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc. — Landscape architecture

Visit Portwood

The on-site presentation centre is open for hard hat tours. To book a tour or learn more about available homes:

Portwood is developed by EDGAR Development, a Vancouver-based real estate company founded in 2009 specializing in master-planned, transit-oriented communities across Metro Vancouver and Edmonton. EDGAR’s portfolio includes The Duke in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood and the Columbia Square redevelopment in New Westminster. Learn more at edgardevelopment.com.