Church Lofts in Midtown Toronto
St. George On Sheldrake is a rare historic church conversion
Eglinton United Church on Sheldrake Boulevard, in north Toronto, is one of the best kept and most exclusive authentic loft conversions in Toronto.
The award-winning Eglinton United Church was built in 1923 to a design by Toronto architects Horwood and White. The exterior is a replica of Keeble College at Oxford University and exhibits elaborate brickwork and limestone trim.
In 2001, the church sanctuary at 65 Sheldrake Boulevard, which had been vacant at the time, was converted into lofts for residential use. The church hall and Sunday School buildings, which had been used for private day school purposes, was demolished and rebuilt in substantially the same form.
The existing detached house at 39 Sheldrake Boulevard was also demolished. Underground parking for 75 automobiles and 26 bicycles was carved out from beneath the converted church, which also includes 15 visitor and 5 handicapped parking spaces.
Most of the units are well over 1,000 square feet, with some larger than many homes at over 4,000 square feet. Since only 33 units were converted into lofts from the original church space, the developer managed to make every loft a large alternative to a house.
Most of the authentic loft units have private outdoor amenity space in the form of balconies or gardens. Indoor and outdoor common amenity space is also provided.
Finishes are obviously high-end, with hardwood floors, granite counters and stainless steel appliances. Ceilings start at 10 feet and some units have soaring cathedral spaces with 24-foot ceilings. Optional gas fireplaces warm those chilly winter nights.
In 1999 the congregation amalgamated with St. George’s United Church and moved to a new location. The retention and conversion of the sanctuary building is a key feature of the project and is a significant element in preserving and enhancing the residential streetscape on Sheldrake Boulevard.
Units were originally offered by the builder as low as $399,900, they now go for up to $2.8 million.
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