Norfolk County and the Simcoe Business Improvement Area (BIA) are excited to announce that Indwell has firmed up a deal to buy the Norfolk Inn in downtown Simcoe. Indwell will take ownership later in November.
The new development will be a top-to-bottom renovation of the existing two-storey building with approximately 30 units on the second storey and a new commercial and office space for local businesses and entrepreneurs on the main floor.
Indwell is a Christian charity that creates affordable housing communities that support people seeking health, wellness and belonging. Indwell is already Norfolk County’s largest provider of affordable housing with supports. Its existing Hambleton Hall project, which opened in Simcoe in 2016, includes 40 one-bedroom and bachelor apartments.
Indwell also has successful development projects in Hamilton and Oxford, and is expanding into Mississauga and London.
“This project is worthy of celebration,” says Norfolk County Mayor Charlie Luke. “It has the potential for transformative change and revitalization. I believe that renovating an eyesore into a modern building that houses people and provides office space is exactly what the doctor ordered for Simcoe’s downtown core.”
The need for affordable housing in Norfolk County, particularly in Simcoe, is great. The waiting list for one-bedroom affordable units in Simcoe is the longest, with some people having waited 8-10 years for housing.
