Historic church properties in Toronto have been a popular target for redevelopment in recent years, and the trend seems to be be continuing with the latest offering from Grid Developments. A proposal was submitted to the City of Toronto Planning Department in late-2015, seeking the redevelopment of the 1925-built Temple Baptist Church at 14 Dewhurst Boulevard, steps north of Danforth Avenue between Pape and Donlands subway stations. The project would preserve the historic church facade, incorporating it into a four-storey loft development featuring a design by George Popper Architect and heritage work overseen by ERA Architects.

Rendering of Sunday School Lofts, image courtesy of Grid Developments

Now entering marketing with the playful moniker 'Sunday School Lofts', we are learning more about the development through pre-construction renderings of the exterior. The new structure would feature red brick cladding with black brick sections surrounding the preserved Temple Baptist Church facade, complementing—though not competing with—the original 1925 brickwork. The uppermost residential level would reach a height of 13.56 metres, while the total height including the mechanical penthouse would be 16.1 metres.

Rendering of Sunday School Lofts, image courtesy of Grid Developments

Sunday School Lofts is offering a a total of 32 units, with 8 units on each of the four levels. The project will consist mainly of family-sized units, with 27 of the 32 units in 2- and 3-bedroom configurations. Suites will range in size from 583 ft² to 1,453 ft², and the average unit size will measure in at over 1,000 square feet. Eight penthouse units will be offered, with seven of the eight featuring two-storey layouts and multiple terraces.

Rendering of Sunday School Lofts, image courtesy of Grid Developments

Residents of the development would have access to a 61.6 square-metre outdoor amenity area located on the north side of the building, as well as a separate indoor amenity space. For those looking to stretch their legs, the project would put its residents steps from an increasingly vibrant stretch of The Danforth lined with restaurants and entertainment. One of the comparatively few new developments along Greektown's lively commercial strip, the project is located in close proximity to two stations on the TTC's Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth). Meanwhile, 26 car parking spaces—in four parking stackers—and 32 bicycle spaces will put the rest of the city within easy reach.

Rendering of Sunday School Lofts, image courtesy of Grid Developments

We will be sure to return with additional information as new details emerge about the project. In the meanwhile, you can view renderings and current info by visiting the project's dataBase file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment using the field provided at the bottom of this page.