High Park may be popular draw in Toronto in spring with the bloom of the cherry blossoms, but just up the street on High Park Ave., 260 High Park Church Lofts & Residences is gaining due attention for a significant condo conversion.Developer Medallion Capital Group recently released the Church Loft suites as part of this project, which involves the re-envisioning of the Alhambra Church at the southwest corner of Anette St. and High Park Ave. in Toronto's west end. The design retains and repurposes the elements that are of historical value in the heritage building, while introducing a new addition massed sensitively around the main sanctuary.Just 15 prized Sanctuary Church Lofts are available in the historic church structure, with another 55 units in a brand new, adjoining four-storey residence.Retaining much of the original church facade, including large stained-glass windows and 10-ft. ceiling heights, Sanctuary Church Lofts range from 837 to 3,081 sq. ft. in one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den, two-bedroom and two-bedroom plus den configurations, and priced from $1 million to slightly less than $4 million. Units in the new structure range from one-bedrooms to three-bedrooms plus den, and are priced from the mid $600's.
Chris Giamou, principal at Medallion Capital Group
"What's important, and what really appealed to us, is proximity to transportation, Bloor West Village as well as the 400 acres of High Park, an iconic municipal park destination in Toronto," says Chris Giamou, principal at Medallion Capital. "All of these are part and parcel of the amenities that are built into this project."The design team for 260 High Park comprises Boston-based, internationally renowned Finegold Alexander Architects for the heritage conversion of the church; Toronto-based Turner Fleischer for the contemporary residences; Toronto-based ERA Architects for the heritage conservation plan; MEP Design for landscaping; and U31 for interiors.As is typical with such heritage conversion projects, especially given what the High Park area and the former church means to local residents, consultation with stakeholders leading up to the project was paramount."What was most important to heritage, in particular, was the protection of existing elements from street level," Giamou told Homes Publishing. Based on such feedback, Medallion Capital altered its original design which surrounded the church with glass and window curtain walls."We know High Park is born and bred of brick, and the community didn't like that concept," Giamou says. "The compromise was that we maintained the north facade of the schoolhouse and the first bay of the west elevation. In addition to that, we replaced the glass with brick pattern that matches the existing brick."Though the building contains 70 units in total, it was actually zoned for as many as 77. "We purposely went larger to make these end-user units," says Giamou, as investors will likely not be part of the buyer profile.Site preparation is underway, and construction is set to begin this summer.260 High Park Church Lofts & Residences
Just 15 prized Sanctuary Church Lofts are available in the historic church structure, with another 55 units in a brand new, adjoining four-storey residence.Retaining much of the original church facade, including large stained-glass windows and 10-ft. ceiling heights, Sanctuary Church Lofts range from 837 to 3,081 sq. ft. in one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den, two-bedroom and two-bedroom plus den configurations, and priced from $1 million to slightly less than $4 million. Units in the new structure range from one-bedrooms to three-bedrooms plus den, and are priced from the mid $600's.
As is typical with such heritage conversion projects, especially given what the High Park area and the former church means to local residents, consultation with stakeholders leading up to the project was paramount."What was most important to heritage, in particular, was the protection of existing elements from street level," Giamou told Homes Publishing. Based on such feedback, Medallion Capital altered its original design which surrounded the church with glass and window curtain walls.
"We know High Park is born and bred of brick, and the community didn't like that concept," Giamou says. "The compromise was that we maintained the north facade of the schoolhouse and the first bay of the west elevation. In addition to that, we replaced the glass with brick pattern that matches the existing brick."Though the building contains 70 units in total, it was actually zoned for as many as 77. "We purposely went larger to make these end-user units," says Giamou, as investors will likely not be part of the buyer profile.Site preparation is underway, and construction is set to begin this summer.260 High Park Church Lofts & Residences