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.
“Indwell has proven themselves to be a trusted partner in the development and operation of affordable housing in Norfolk County and we look forward to the opportunity to work with them again,” says Heidy Van Dyk, Norfolk County’s Director of Social Services & Housing. “We know that stable housing is the first step to stability in other areas of people’s lives. Affordability and support are key.”
“Indwell is committed to helping our community thrive, and this includes our downtown. Since we opened Hambleton Hall in 2016, we’ve realized we were meeting a fraction of the housing needs in Haldimand-Norfolk,” says Jeff Neven, Executive Director of Indwell. “We’re thrilled to be using our experience in developing high-quality, affordable housing to once again transform a local landmark in the Norfolk Inn. We look forward to working with Norfolk County, our neighbours in the BIA, and folks from across the community over the coming months to renew this part of downtown Simcoe.”
