A new eight-story condo is being proposed for St. Clair Avenue West and Wychwood Avenue to replace a “derelict” church that dates back to 1937.
The proposal for 155 Wychwood Ave. consists of 29 condos that vary from one to three bedrooms, as well as 250 square metres of retail space on the ground floor with three bays facing St. Clair Avenue West.
It features a brick-and-glass design done by KC AU Architects that local councillor Josh Matlow said is “really nicely detailed” and “references some of the materials of the church,” which had a dark brick design that reflected its Scottish Presbyterian origins.
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Matlow said that the area is in need of new residences as more people are moving to the city and can’t find a place to live.
“It’s really important that we have a supply of affordable housing in our city for people to be able to live here, and certainly this community is no exception,” he said.
How affordable the condos will be hasn’t been determined, but Matlow is pushing for it.
There have been some community concerns about traffic, Matlow noted, and the use of a nearby laneway, which children currently play in. Twenty-two parking spots have been proposed for the laneway.
However, Matlow said the developer has promised to do a traffic study to address those concerns.
“[The developers] are not trying to exceed the city’s vision for what the height should be at eight storeys, which is rare these days,” he said.
As for the retail at the bottom of the building, Matlow hopes that it will consist of smaller mom-and-pop shops rather than a big box store to maintain character on St. Clair Avenue West.
The history of the site will also likely be commemorated in some way that has not been determined.