Trent Hills Independent
By Bill Freeman
Norwood – A half-million dollar expansion at Mapleview Retirement Residence in Norwood, will add eight new rooms and a lounge that will feature state-of-the-art technology and plenty of room and large window views for residents to enjoy the sights, and participate in recreational and exercise programs.
“We’ve been thinking about it for a while. It’s in response to the growing need in the community,” said Dev Mundi, principal of Mundi Holdings Limited which operates Mapleview and four other retirement residences in southern Ontario.
They’ve operated Mapleview for nearly 12 years.
Mapleview currently has 58 residents.
“When the residence gets full, we feel guilty that residents have to go to Campbellford or Peterborough. We felt bad. Why should people have to leave the community they’ve lived in all their lives? That really triggered the whole process,” Mundi said following a brief sod-turning ceremony at the County Road 45 facility.
“We want residents of the community to not have to move when they need help.”
Construction work will start the first week of May with completion by August. The new rooms should be ready for occupancy in September or October.
The lounge will have the “amenities of the modern life” but will still allow residents to live the way they’ve always lived, “quietly, cozy, comfortably in the community with their friends,” said Mundi.
Mundi says he and his staff are pleased about the project and investment in Norwood.
“It’s good to see something growing in the community. For us, it’s an honour to be part of that growth. We’re part of the community, and we see the love and affection every time we come.”
Asphodel-Norwood Mayor Terry Low was understandably thrilled. The municipality has been working with Mundi and his staff for some time on the expansion, guiding them through the application and permit process.
“It’s reinvestment in our community and that’s the key,” Low said in an interview.
“When you take a person of Dev’s stature, and he wants to reinvest $500,000, I welcome him with open arms. This is really good for the community. It’s nice to have new funding, but it’s really nice to see a family reinvest. That’s a big plus for this community, and that shows there’s a lot of confidence.”
The project will allow more township residents to remain close to their homes in their senior years, Low added.
“It’s an exciting time for us.”
