THAT LITTLE BIT EXTRA IN RETIREMENT LIVING
Revera Glenora Park lets seniors live in elegance
Patricia McHugh was just looking. Downsizing from her Callingwood home was on her mind but she had no intention of signing on the dotted line.
Or, so she thought.
“The day I came it was just to ask questions,” said McHugh, referring to that fateful visit to Revera Glenora Park, a then under-construction luxury retirement residence just off 102nd Avenue, and close to 124th Street. But the size, location and Glenora Park's pet-friendly aspect changed that. “The whole concept of the building appealed to me.”
McHugh loves being social. She would have friends and family over to her old west-end home but then COVID-19 changed everything. Being a homeowner, meanwhile, was no longer necessarily her cup of tea.
“I'm very healthy still,” said McHugh but she added she was no longer interested in having to maintain a home with concerns like the need to replace a furnace or other such things.
She had driven by the retirement residence site numerous times during her city travels and, as the project progressed, so did her interest.
Now she's in a one-bedroom unit, which she and Finn, her three-year-old Yorkshire terrier, fully enjoy. At 596 square feet, it is modern, compact, comfy and provides just about everything she needs, including striking river valley views. There's a washer and dryer, and the kitchen includes a fridge, stove, microwave and dishwasher, although she notes the dishwasher isn't big enough for cleaning trays after she bakes cookies — the only criticism she had about living in Glenora Park.
“I don't think you'll find too many retirement homes on this scale,” said McHugh, who happened to be one of the first to move in when the 290-suite, 22-storey residence opened late last year.
“I was the very first person to cross the threshold,” recalled McHugh. “Bells and whistles went off. I thought I set off the fire alarm. I didn't know what happened!”
And while she doesn't use all of the building's amenities — she's not into arts and crafts, she says, but might try the golf simulator — she does use the indoor saltwater pool and takes part in the aqua-fit and cardio drumming sessions, and enjoys Glenora Park's restaurant-style dining facilities.
“Signing on the dotted line was the best thing I ever did,” she said.
Described as an exceptional new option for older adults looking for an elegant welcoming environment to call home, Glenora Park held its official unveiling in the latter part of June.
“The demand for retirement living across Alberta is very substantial,” said John Beaney, Revera's chief operating officer, noting Revera has 15 such properties across the province, including Glenora Park and four others in Edmonton.
“Here, a distinction is that the lifestyle includes that little bit extra.”
There are 222 independent living suites — studios, one-bedroom or two-bedroom suites — 34 assisted living units and another 34 covering memory care.
Amenities, aside from those previously mentioned, include a fitness centre, library and games room, outdoor terrace with barbecue facilities, a salon and spa, and a movie theatre. Dining options include more casual fare at Bistro 102 and the Clifton Pub on Glenora Park's main floor, and the more elegant Riverview restaurant on the seventh floor. There's also The Gild, a stunning private dining space that can be booked for events/dinners, and the Skyview Lounge on the 22nd floor, which offers panoramic city views.
Independent living suites start at about $3,500 per month. There's a second occupant fee of $300 per month for the one- and two-bedroom suites, while parking and dining plans are extra.
UNIQUE PROPERTY
Glenora Park, located at 10150 Clifton Place, is the culmination of a journey that began around 2017.
One Properties — you might know them for developments downtown in ICE District — held the land and was looking at various plans, including, at one point, a possible condo project. But after finding there would be strong demand for high-quality retirement living, plans changed. One then partnered with Revera to launch the $140-million-plus project in 2019.
“It's unique in the market for Edmonton and for Alberta,” said Thomas Burr, One's vice-president, mixed use development, Western Canada.
The land One held also included a parcel directly across the front of Glenora Park, which it has transformed into Clifton Park. The park, also open to the public, features accessible walking paths, a fenced dog run, and a bronze cast statue of a packhorse by Canadian artists Jacqueline Metz and Nancy Chew.
“The addition of a newly unveiled Clifton Park will only enhance the quality of life for Glenora Park residents and create a meeting place with the broader local community,” said Burr.