Grey County is securing 32 acres of land in Durham for the redevelopment and expansion of the Rockwood Terrace long-term care home. Acquiring the land is a significant step forward in the redevelopment project. Currently the provincial target for project completion is 2025.

The new property, located directly behind the existing Rockwood Terrace, is being acquired in a land exchange for the Grey County quarry. County Council officially approved the exchange at the April 23 County Council meeting. Lands are expected to be transferred later this spring.

“County Council is thrilled to have property secured for our rebuild of Rockwood Terrace. Residents of Grey County are one step closer to a state-of-the-art 128-bed long-term care home,” said Grey County Warden Paul McQueen. “Choosing a location right next door will have many benefits and getting it through a land exchange reduces the amount of money we will need to raise through taxes for this important project.”

The Province approved the new 128-bed long-term care facility last year and Grey County began searching for an ideal location in Durham. No design has been completed but it is anticipated five to 10 acres of the full 32 acres will be needed for the new facility. A study of the property and conversations with the Municipality of West Grey will explore how the remaining 25 acres of land could be developed. The extra space leaves options open for developing a campus of care or other housing models such as affordable seniors’ apartments, senior bungalow townhouse units and retirement home units.

For now, Grey County’s focus remains on redevelopment of Rockwood Terrace and continued service delivery for residents in the home.

“We’re excited to move the project forward, but we know there’s still a lot of work ahead of us. Building a new long-term care facility is a big job, and we need to get it right,” said Warden McQueen.

West Grey Mayor Christine Robinson also applauds the Rockwood Terrace rebuild.

“We are so grateful to the Province for improving long-term care in Grey County, and to the County for their excellent work on this vital project,” said Mayor Christine Robinson. “Rockwood Terrace is a gem of our community and offers high quality care close to home. We look forward to the construction of a new state-of-the-art facility and congratulate the County on reaching this important milestone in the project.”

The next step in the process is to work with an architect and develop drawings for the new facility.

Grey County also has an application in with the province to redevelop and expand Grey Gables in Markdale.

source: media release, Grey County