Developers step in to turn former seniors home into supportive housing

A group of four of London's biggest developers is teaming up to turn a former and now vacant long-term care home into a 40-unit supportive housing residence in south London. 

In his state of the city speech on Thursday, Mayor Josh Morgan said four developers — Tricar, Auburn, Drewlo and Sifton — will come together with Indwell to convert the property at 46 Elmwood Place. 

The property operated as Elmwood Place long-term care home before closing two years ago. Veranda Property Investments had received approval from council last year to convert the two-storey building into 30 apartments. However, Veranda has since sold to the developers group. 

Adam Carapella, vice-president of Tricar, said developers formed the idea of teaming up after taking part in the health and homelessness summits in late 2022 that led to the formation of the city's hubs plan. 

"We learned a great deal there," said Carapella. "One of the things we learned is that supportive housing is a major need in this city. We may be competitors but one thing we have in common is that we're all city builders and we all care a lot about this city."

The project will require some senior government money to support the conversion.

Natasha Thuemler is the regional manager with Indwell, a Christian charity that provides supportive housing.

She said the building's layout, with its accessibility upgrades and common spaces, makes it perfect to a quick conversion into supportive housing. 

"We're looking to find these ideal properties that were ready for immediate turnover," she said. "It's a place where residents health and housing needs can be met."  

Indwell manages Embassy Commons, a 72-unit supportive housing complex in Old East Village, as well as the Thompson Road apartments. Carapella said he expects the Elmwood Place conversion will follow a similar model to these facilities. 

Indwell will help design and operate the building. 

Allan Drewlo said attending the summit meetings helped him see there were ways for developers to make difference in London's housing crisis.

"All four of us attended the summit meetings and saw the need and the direction the city wanted to go," he said. 

"Hopefully we can get it operational by Christmas, that's the goal."