139-Year-Old Church to Become a 48-Storey Tower?

It’s your go-to source for Toronto living and real estate news.

Today, I want to dive into a heated debate happening right in the heart of our city—specifically in the historic Cabbagetown neighbourhood.

The issue? A plan to transform a 139-year-old heritage church into a site for a 48-storey rental apartment tower. This project has sparked a fierce standoff between residents shouting "history is being destroyed" and advocates arguing "we need homes now."

Let’s break down the facts, the numbers, and why this matters for Toronto.

📍 The Centre of the Storm: St. Luke's United Church

The building in question is St. Luke's United Church, located at the corner of Sherbourne and Carlton Streets. Built in 1887, this structure has been a city-designated heritage building since 1976.

Recently, the property owner and developer, Kindred Works, released a shocking new proposal for the site:

• Original Plan (2022): Adding a 12-storey building atop the church.

• New Plan: Demolishing the interior, keeping only three exterior walls and the towers, and building a 48-storey skyscraper.

This isn't just a minor renovation; it’s a complete reimagining of the site that leaves only the "shell" of the history behind.

🏗️ The Developer's Ace: "130 Affordable Housing Units"

Why did the developer suddenly jump from 12 storeys to 48? While provincial changes to density rules played a part, the strongest argument for this massive tower is Affordable Housing.

• Total Units: 440 Rental Units

• Affordable Units: Approx. 130 Units (30% of the building)

In the original plan, there were only 31 affordable units. The new plan increases that number by four times. In a city facing a severe housing crisis, an offer of 130 affordable homes is incredibly difficult to turn down.

Mark Richardson, the technical lead for HousingNowTO, put it bluntly:

"Our priority should always be on delivering housing... We really need to be a little bit less precious about heritage rules that were brought in in the 1960s."

Local Councillor Chris Moise also admitted that while he wasn't entirely happy with the design, the fact that 30% of the units are affordable is a major positive.

🛡️ The Community Pushback: "Is Facadism Real Preservation?"

On the other side of the fence, neighbours and heritage advocates are furious.

Residents like Paul Dilse, who has lived in the area for 40 years, argue that gutting a landmark and leaving only three walls (a practice often called "Facadism") is not true preservation.

"It's a landmark property... Everybody up to this point has said this is something worth preserving, and now we're not. All that's going to be left is three walls."

Furthermore, there are concerns about the process. The Toronto and East York Community Preservation Panel claims the new plans are moving forward without proper consultation with the Toronto Preservation Board, though the developer denies this, stating they have been working diligently with city staff.

Living in Toronto, we see this conflict constantly. On one hand, we want to protect the character and history that makes neighbourhoods like Cabbagetown special. On the other hand, the rental crisis is real, and we desperately need inventory.

From a real estate perspective, adding 440 rental units (with 130 affordable ones) is a huge win for the market supply. But seeing a 140-year-old piece of history reduced to a mere "facade" at the foot of a glass tower is undeniably bittersweet.

What do you think?

Should we prioritize preserving the integrity of our history, or is providing homes for 130 families worth the sacrifice?

The Toronto Preservation Board is set to discuss this proposal soon. I’ll keep you updated on whether the skyline of Cabbagetown is about to change forever.