Home With A View at Edge

Written by Laura Severs published by Edmonton Journal on March 26, 2022

Dianne Pearce may or may not be ready to live her life on the edge, but come this summer she will definitely be living her life in the Edge.

Pearce and her partner Doug Troock have purchased a two bedroom plus den condominium in Carrington Communities’ Edge at Larch Park development in southwest Edmonton. They’re counting down the days until they move in.

“We can hardly wait to get the keys,” said Pearce. “We’re getting packed up and everything.”

The first stage of the project, which is 55 per cent sold, expects to have residents moving into the building in the next few months. Edge’s initial building, with some 160 units, is in its final stages of construction.

“We’re starting possessions early summer,” said project sales manager Christine Pilling, noting the north block is in the finishing stages while the south block is seeing drywall work being done.

While Pearce and Troock only bought their unit toward the end of last year, they’ve had their eye on Edge, located on the edge of the Larch Sanctuary along the western edge of Whitemud Creek Ravine, for quite a long time.

“We used to live in the area six or seven areas ago, and we enjoyed the hiking and biking trails they have above the Mactaggart Sanctuary,” said Troock, adding they were keeping their eye on that particular piece of property where Edge is now being built. “We watched the stakes being put in the ground and later on they started work on developing the foundation and we would make a point of going by every two or three weeks.”

Edge’s sales pitch — “bungalow living elevated” — clearly intrigued both Pearce and Troock. Perhaps the only reason they held off buying was due to the pandemic and concerns over whether or not the project would survive the economic side effects of COVID-19. Last September, however, they made their purchase not only because the project was moving forward but also because the couple wanted to ensure they would get the unit they wanted: one that has a view overlooking the protected 59-acre Larch nature reserve.

They went for one of the larger units so they would have flexibility for their lifestyle — the Vibrant, which comes in at 1,794 square feet. With it being a two-bedroom condo, the second bedroom can be used for guest stayovers but also gives Pearce the option of utilizing it for an in-unit exercise space or even as a home office. While there will be a den, Pearce prefers the bedroom space and its views overlooking the sanctuary as an area to work from.

But it’s not just the larger space and the view that enticed the couple. At this stage of life, they’re 70-ish, they want to live their best last years in a place that’s all on one level, is brand new — including appliances and the like — and is well-located with services, eateries and shopping within a short distance. Edge gives them that as it’s minutes away from Rabbit Hill Road.

Then, there’s also the building’s amenities, which include a lounge, a fitness centre, a yoga studio, a games room, a crafts room, a library and more, all of which is designed to give Edge and its residents a sense of community.

Design-wise, Pearce and Troock opted for Edge’s Retreat finish, one of four choices available, for their Vibrant.

Carrington describes the Retreat style as a balance between over-the-top and classy; glamour is infused with a little bit of glitz, sparkle and shine that is bright and luxurious, and reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour.

New Show Suites

Edge’s first structure, a Y-shaped six-storey wood-frame building, is part of an exclusive development that includes future condos and townhomes designed to blend seamlessly into its natural surroundings. Once completed, the plan for Edge is to have about 347 housing units, primarily condominiums.

Edge offers large, open-concept condos that feel and function like a single-family home, said Pilling, who adds that actual show suites are now open, replacing the smaller sales office that was on site.

Owners who came to the recent buyer’s open house to launch the show suites had an overwhelmingly positive response.

“Words I kept hearing (from the owners) was that it absolutely exceeded their expectations,” said Pilling.

Buying at Edge

Units for the first Edge at Larch Park building come in floor plan configurations of one or two bedrooms, or two bedrooms plus den and are being positioned as “bungalow living but elevated.” Pricing starts at $249,900. Units range in size from 854 to 2,440 square feet. Buyers can choose from 14 different floor plans and four finishes: Dwell (minimalistic features of mid-century modern design), Modern Farmhouse, Retreat (glamour with a bit of glitz) and Vermouth (bold sophistication with a somewhat masculine hint).