New Commercial / Residential Development Underway in Downtown Woodstock

Woodstock – An iconic building in Downtown Woodstock is getting a new lease on life as renovations move forward at the historic former Oxford Hotel. Located at 453 Simcoe Street, the landmark building is being transformed to welcome four new commercial tenants on the ground floor, with rental apartments planned for the upper levels—a key step in the City’s ongoing downtown revitalization efforts.

“It’s exciting to see this important piece of our Downtown being given a new life, while preserving the historical significance of this building,” said Woodstock Mayor Jerry Acchione. “Not only will the project create much needed residential units and bring more people downtown, but the developers have deep roots in our community and are committed to the success of our downtown.”

The project is a collaboration between Keith Beres and Bryan Saelens who both have a wealth of experience in real estate, development and converting mixed-use buildings. The funding to bring their vision to life was coordinated through Hometown Mortgages Team, Dominion Lending Centres – Forest City Funding, and ROI Group, who are working collaboratively to help finance this significant commercial / residential renovation.

“Keith, Bryan and the rest of their team has been great to work with, getting the project to this stage,” added Acchione. “This building holds significant memories for many residents, and I’m so pleased the effort is going into honouring the building’s history while creating opportunities for new businesses and residents to find their home in Downtown Woodstock.”

Beres and Saelens are working closely with the Woodstock Museum and Woodstock Historical Committee with the goal to save as many pieces from the original structure as possible including stained glass pieces, windows, brick features and fireplace elements.

Preliminary discussions started back in April 2024, and the deal closed in May of this year. Renovations have begun on the commercial spaces and details, including the number of apartments, are being finalized before construction will begin on the residential spaces. The project is expected to take 18 months to complete.

This project is a practical example of how the actions identified in the Downtown Development Plan can be implemented to achieve the vision of making Downtown Woodstock a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable destination. Our economic development team continues to actively implement the actions under the Downtown Development Plan to support businesses and bring more people and businesses downtown.