Things are bustling at Port Picton. A major renovation of the historic Claramount, the beautiful old building at its centre, is nearing completion. The hotel, dining, and recreational complex opens to the public in six months. Before that, residents can expect a floating boardwalk to connect Port Picton to Picton Bay.

“We are actually on track for April or May,” says my tour guide, Elyse Cleave, sounding a bit surprised. The daughter of David and Kathryn Cleave, who have been building in the County for 40 years, she knows a thing or two about timelines, and how they can extend. Indefinitely. A Realtor at Re/Max, she also knows how to be upbeat.

“All the building should be done by the end of this year, and after that it’s all the details, the furnishing and fixing.”

It’s going to be a grand opening. Port Picton has weathered its ups and downs, including pandemic-induced construction halts. The first phase of the project, which includes the Claramount and about 200 homes, started construction in 2019. It was to be finished in 2023.

But Ms. Cleave was beaming with pride as she showed me around earlier this summer — understandably. Residents now inhabit the condo buildings, townhouses, and detached waterfront homes, and the first phase of the carefully planned community is nearing completion.

It looks like a film set — a Prince Edward County version of The Truman Show, which is set in picture perfect Seaside, Florida, a spectacular oceanside town built on 80 acres, designed by New Urbanists.

Port Picton takes expert advantage of its 24 acres and over 1800 feet of waterfront on Picton Bay, as well as of the steep slopes in the site. Its individual and stacked townhouses have multiple levels built into the hillsides, keeping heights constant, and allowing for spectacular views framed by ancient trees. The builders somehow managed to preserve hundreds of mature butternuts, oaks, and maples all through construction.

Winding streets are modelled on European lanes: they are narrower than the standard, which allowed for more trees to be kept, and are now studded with old fashioned streetlights. The site is trimmed in a gorgeous copper-coloured limestone excavated from the foundations of the Carter and Taylor buildings. Houses are in brick and stone, with ornate, almost Victorian detailing.

There are multiple parks, and, soon to come, a 12-foot-wide floating boardwalk, which will provide an important pedestrian connection to the harbour and the town. It will stretch 525 feet along the waterfront and allow moorings for up to 60 boats. Immediately across the water from Port Picton is the Prince Edward Yacht Club. You could almost walk there, too.

“The possibility of putting Picton on the map, finally, as a major boating destination is really exciting. We are hoping for lots of boats coming in and mooring and staying for a few nights.”

Port Picton Homes CEO David Cleave

At the center of all this, about midway up the hill that connects the waterfront to Bridge Street, stands the Claramount. Workmen are everywhere, as well as the dust and drywall of a major renovation nearing completion.

The historic building, its grand central staircase completely restored, along with its wood floors and fireplaces, will house a hotel with five private suites across the top two floors. These feature massive spa bathrooms, and some have multiple living spaces.

On either side of the Claramount, two new wings meet across the water-facing side. They will hold a fine restaurant with intimate, circular booths for dining. Ms. Cleave points out a future seafood counter, bar, wine room, and open kitchen. Floor-to-ceiling windows enclose the entire space, giving way to a terrace overlooking the water. Key outdoor patios will be heated and protected to extend the outdoor season.

The restaurant flows into another bar, and that, in turn, gives on to a dance floor.

“My parents’ idea,” says Ms. Cleave. “My mother was always sad there was nowhere for proper dancing in the County. So now you have it.”

It might not be just the older generation that will find that dancefloor a draw. The Bridgerton set might be drawn here too.

From the main floor, we descend into a massive basement, whose ceilings are 14 feet high. It will house a bakery and an art gallery, with hands-on workshops led by rotating artists-in-residence. We pass through spaces dedicated to a gym, a giant room for classes and bootcamps, and a pool. Memberships will be reserved for Port Picton residents and guests of the hotel, but anyone can sign up for the exercise classes.

In behind this complex, facing the water, run twelve purpose-built hotel room “cottages” with sliding glass doors facing the water. They frame tennis and pickleball courts on one side, and on the other give way to a series of green spaces and parks that stretch down to the harbour, and soon, the boardwalk to town.

Residence at Port Picton comes at all price points. Beautiful, detached homes along the waterfront, made of brick and stone and with ample lawns giving on to public greenspace and water views, are about $2.5 to $3 million. Another row of detached homes without direct water views but still enviably situated and landscaped are about $2 million. A two-bedroom unit in the finished Carter condominium building currently sells for about $1 million. In the Taylor building, which is still under construction, the floorplans are a bit smaller, and prices a bit more accessible. A one-bedroom apartment will be about $500k.

A second phase, getting underway now, includes four more blocks, a mix of condo apartments and 20 back-to-back townhouses. 

There will be about 250 homes at Port Picton altogether when it is finished, in about 5 years.