Originally built in 1908 by the renowned architecture firm, Burke, Horwood and White, the Alhambra United Church is a beautiful example of neo-gothic architecture nestled in the heart of Toronto’s High Park North neighbourhood. However, with its congregation dwindling and the cost of repairs increasing, the church closed its doors and was purchased by Chris and Mike Giamou, Co-Founders of Medallion Capital Group in 2015. The Toronto-based developer now has ambitious plans to rejuvenate the heritage property and re-envision it as the centrepiece of the 260 High Park condominium residence.
Photo: James Bombales
“These little pockets of the city really appealed to us, so when the site came up for sale we immediately put a plan into action to purchase it,” said Chris Giamou, Principal of Medallion Capital Group. “And the first step, apart from the financial plan, was to go to our longtime trusted associates at Turner Fleischer Architects to give us a plan in terms of what can be achieved on the site.”
In addition to Turner Fleischer, the project team includes Boston-based Finegold Alexander Architects to handle the church conversion, ERA Architects to create the heritage conservation plan and U31 who designed the interiors. After spending three years on heritage consultations and working with city planners and community members, the project launched sales in 2018 and nearly 70 percent of the new suites are already sold. Groundbreaking is slated to start this summer and the project is estimated to be completed by 2021.
Situated at the southwest corner of Annette Street and High Park Avenue, the re-envisioned church will house 15 Sanctuary Lofts consisting of a collection of one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den, two-bedroom, two-bedroom plus den and three-bedroom plus den units. Available suites range in size from 837 square feet to 3,081 square feet and boast 10-foot ceilings and open-concept layouts with plenty of natural light light through beautiful stained glass windows.
Surrounding the church will be a four-storey new-build residence with 55 suites and luxury amenities. Mixing modern and classic architectural elements, the exterior of the building features expansive spans of glass, integrated balconies, a central courtyard and a brick facade.
Photo: James Bombales
“This is something that we wanted to make special because it’s not everyday that you get to work on a significant site on the corner of two prominent streets with a really iconic, existing building,” said Raza Mehdi, Associate at Turner Fleischer Architects. “How we tie into the heritage aspect was something that we really wanted to keep with the intent of the design. And the statement we wanted to make here was one of keeping with the existing context and introducing a new addition to the building without competing or overshadowing it.”
The modern addition features a wide selection of layouts ranging in size from 632 square feet to 2,567 square feet. All homes are equipped with a high level of modern features and designer finishes including luxurious bathrooms with rainfall showerhead and porcelain floor tiles, structured high-speed wiring and a Miele appliance package. The kitchens also come standard with custom European-inspired cabinetry with soft-close drawers, quartz countertops and backsplashes.
Amenities include a stylish lobby with a 24-hour concierge, multi-purpose lounge with a double-sided fireplace and a fitness centre with state-of-the-art cardio equipment, yoga studio, sauna and private change rooms. Residents of 260 High Park will also have access to a wealth of outdoor amenities, starting with a beautifully landscaped front courtyard area designed by landscape architectural firm MEP Design. A private dining room in the amenity level leads out to a spacious, private outdoor garden, while a landscaped rooftop terrace comes complete with lounge areas, barbecues and a fire pit.
Prices at 260 High Park start from the mid-$600,000s and from $1 million for a Sanctuary Loft. To learn more about the project, visit the presentation centre located at 2150 Bloor Street West. Hours are Monday to Thursday from 12pm to 5pm and weekends from 12 pm to 5pm.
For more information, please call 416 766 9935 or visit 260highpark.com.
