Ontario Construction News staff writer
Site preparation activities have started and will continue until mid-2023 at the site of a new seniors’ campus in south Simcoe County.
Building construction is expected to begin shortly after, if all building and design approvals are granted, with occupancy for the long-term care home, Village Centre, and Supportive Housing components set for mid-2025.
Once completed, the new Simcoe Village Campus in the Village of Beeton will include 160 long-term care beds, 179 seniors housing units and homes.
The 28.4 acre property, which includes the current Simcoe Manor facility lands in Beeton, will support a 500,000 sq. ft. $225.8 million campus including a wide range of amenities geared toward seniors in the community.
“This will be a tremendous legacy project for the County that will help seniors across our communities, and particularly in South Simcoe. We continue to thank all our partners, including the Government of Ontario, for investing in this redevelopment project, and I look forward to attending the grand opening of the new Simcoe Village Campus in 2025,” said Warden George Cornell.
Simcoe Village Campus will replicate the provincially recognized and awarded Georgian Village Campus model, which was opened by the County of Simcoe in 2013 in the Town of Penetanguishene.
The County of Simcoe has also launched a $4.5 million fundraising campaign for special projects at the new campus including outdoor amenities such as gazebos, garden accessories, outdoor benches, health and wellness amenities, and socialization amenities such as a coffee bar.
“We are truly excited to see this project moving forward. We know from our experience in developing Georgian Village in Penetanguishene that this aging-in-place model works well by having a wide range of amenities available for our residents,” said Jane Sinclair, General Manager, Health & Emergency Services. “From dining to medical services to fitness facilities and an array of activities, this becomes a true ‘community within a community’ where residents can create lasting friendships as they age-in-place.