St. Luke’s proposal garners mixed feedback from Cabbagetown South

Siobhan Geary —

Representatives from St Luke’s Church and Options for Homes met with the Cabbagetown South Residents’ Association on March 4 to discuss their recent partnership and its effect on both St. Luke’s and the neighborhood itself. Options for Homes proposes to transform the church’s annex into a 25-story building with affordably priced condo units while leaving the rest of the church intact, preserving its historical façade and allowing it to continue as a place of worship and community hub.

St. Luke’s, a long-time neighborhood landmark and home to a number of congregations and a variety of users from its diverse community, has been in need of revenue to maintain and revitalize their space. After being approached by a number of developers, St. Luke’s signed an agreement with Options for Homes, a non-profit corporation dedicated to providing affordable and sustainable home ownership opportunities.

“We’re trying to fund the redevelopment of the church, but we want to do it in a way that also gives to the community,” said, Bob Keel, co-chair of St. Luke’s board of stewards and trustees, “And that’s why we’re excited to work with Options.”

The announcement was met with mixed feelings and community members expressed some concerns—notably that the proposed development’s focus on bachelor and one-bedroom apartments would alienate families.

“I have a lot of empathy for that concern,” said Mike Labbé, president and C.E.O. of Options for Homes, asserting their history of working with communities towards shared goals. “We’re not married to the size of the units. We’re married to helping the church save their church.”

Others worried the proposed building would overwhelm the neighborhood. Given Toronto’s rising population and continuing development, the question might not be whether to avoid such buildings, but how they can best serve their communities.

“Development is going to happen on Sherbourne. You’ve got to work with it,” said Jeff Lookkong, president of the Cabbagetown South Residents’ Association, “It’s a question of ensuring it’s the right development for the area.”