Restoration project of historic hotel brings affordable housing to Woodstock

Historic former Oxford Hotel in Woodstock will be renovated into apartments to provide affordable housing in the city. CTV London’s Lauren Stallone reports.

It was once an iconic hotel.

Located in downtown Woodstock, The Oxford Hotel is getting a suite upgrade.

“We’re expecting five commercial units on the main level, focused on business professionals,” said Keith Beres, a developer with the project. “On top of that we’re expecting 22 residential on the upper two floors, with an additional six in the basement.”

The restoration project is aimed at providing affordable housing in the city’s downtown core, while making sure the building’s history never checks out.

“Oxford Hotel is hundreds of years old,” said Kerry Barid, a development officer with the city. “It has been vacant for over 30 years.”

Developers said they found several fascinating artifacts, including old textbooks and a concrete structure in the hotel lobby.

“The building was designed by the O’Neil family,” said Beres. “They were Tip O’Neil’s parents, the founder of Major League Baseball, and they created this concrete wall in the lobby so he could practice his curveball.”

With the city’s population rapidly growing, Mayor Jerry Acchione said the restoration is a great opportunity to open the doors to everything downtown Woodstock has to offer.

“People living and working downtown has always been the goal,” said Acchione. “Having more affordable units for people to move into downtown is essential.”

Acchione said the project came at a good time for Woodstock, noting the city is in the middle of a $51-million streetscape project.

“Just finishing up the first phase of streetscape, this ties it all together,” said Acchione. “Trying to intensify and do a lot more with what we have here in the city.”

Developers are expecting to have the commercial units occupied by the end of 2025 and people living in the former hotel by next summer.