Construction is underway at Port Picton Homes’ Cold Creek subdivision. The first phase will bring 184 townhomes to the stretch of land in behind the County Farm Centre, at Lake and Hineman Streets. Prices start at $385,000.

“We paved out two weeks ago, streetlights are going up, sidewalks are going in, and we’re getting cleaned up with all of our marketing signs for the project,” says Port Picton Homes CEO David Cleave.

Formal pre-sales have not yet begun, but interest is strong through the project’s website and Realtor.ca, Mr. Cleave says. The company hopes to open its sales program in early November.

It plans to build a model home so prospective buyers can tour in person.

“We’ll be starting that construction in the next month or two,” says Elyse Cleave, a sales representative with RE/MAX. “People really want to see something built. Something that they can walk through.”

Entry-level homes will have about 900 square feet, and include two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full garage, and a backyard.

“They’re not a stacked townhome; they’re your true, traditional townhome,” says Ms. Cleave.

Prices in the first phase are expected to range from $385,000 to $580,000. The development will also include 86 back-to-back townhomes with up to four bedrooms. Some of those units are expected to be priced below $500,000.

There will be no maintenance, homeowners’ association, or condominium fees, according to Mr. Cleave.

Eligible buyers could also benefit from temporary federal and provincial HST relief on new homes. The expanded program is available for qualifying purchase agreements entered into between April 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027, subject to eligibility requirements.

“The homes are mainly attracting first-time home buyers, families that are looking to come into the Picton market, or retirees that are looking to downsize to a small townhome,” Ms. Cleave said. 

“We’re not seeing the same number of investors that we saw previously coming into Prince Edward County, which I think is nice — the people who are interested are wanting to put roots down here or they already live here.”

Mr. Cleave said the development is intended, in part, to give people who work locally more opportunities to live here, rather than commute from Belleville, Kingston, or Napanee.

“When you look at Highway 62 and County Road 1 in the morning, and at the end of the drive cycle in the afternoon, there are clearly a lot of people working in Prince Edward County that are living on the other side of the bridge.”

The location is a major selling point.

“The great thing about Cold Creek is that it is walkable,” Ms. Cleave said. “People don’t have to rely on a vehicle. It also backs directly onto the Millennium Trail.”

The project features an energy-efficient approach. There are no natural gas lines; instead, homes feature high-efficiency heat pumps, which lowers energy bills. 

The stormwater management pond is complete, with a walking trail around it, and trees and shrubs are being planted. The system uses a low-impact development approach intended to allow stormwater to infiltrate into the ground and replenish the groundwater aquifer.

Hydrogeological monitoring is also continuing under a 10-year commitment required through the municipality’s planning approvals. Reports are submitted annually.

The developer is also exploring whether some of the four-bedroom back-to-back townhomes could become rental housing.

“We are looking to put some of that product in the rental market too, for families.”

The company is working with consultants to determine whether some units qualify for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s MLI Select financing program. The program’s criteria have changed, and the developer must establish whether the homes meet the requirements before proceeding.

If they do qualify, some units could become part of the company’s rental portfolio, while others could be purchased by individual owners who choose to rent them out.

“Individual buyers as landlords really strengthen our rental market,” Mr. Cleave said.

The developer expects his model home to be ready for the spring 2027 market. Mr. Cleave said interest has picked up over the past three months, following a prolonged slowdown in home sales, and he is optimistic about the season ahead.