Kindred Works has submitted the Zoning By-law Amendment and Official Plan Amendment application to the City of Toronto to redevelop the iconic Saint Luke’s into a vibrant, mixed-use community hub. Located at the northeast gateway to Cabbagetown, the project will introduce 440 new purpose-built rental units, 1,453 square metres of flexible community space, a community event hall, and an enhanced public realm along Sherbourne Street.
The proposed development will retain and revitalize key elements of the 1887 Romanesque church and 1912 schoolhouse, preserving the site’s heritage while building upwards in a transit- and cycling-friendly location. This redevelopment aims to honour Saint Luke’s legacy, add much-needed housing, and support the community with sustainable design that avoids casting new shadows on Allan Gardens’ treasured greenspace.
“We’re proud to be leading this transformational project that reimagines Saint Luke’s as a vibrant and sustainable mixed-use site,” says David Constable, the founding partner at Kindred Works. “This is an incredible opportunity to preserve a place with deep roots in Toronto’s history, while bringing necessary housing to the city core. This building incorporates beautiful homes along with thoughtful shared spaces that will ensure the community has a vibrant heart for generations to come.”
KPMB Architects will be leading the design of the new building, with ERA Architects serving as the heritage architects on the project.
“At 353 Sherbourne we approached the adaptive reuse of Saint Luke’s as an opportunity to honour it’s spaces and legacy by transforming it into a flexible public event hall and community space, deeply rooted in the daily life of the neighbourhood”, says Kevin Bridgman, Partner, KPMB Architects. “With a new landscaped forecourt along Sherbourne Street, a ground floor café, and welcoming meeting spaces, the reimagined site will host everything from markets to community gatherings—providing a vital civic amenity that anchors the north end of the City’s planned Garden District.”
Kindred Works has been engaging the community since 2020 and incorporating feedback into the evolving plans. Engagement with local organizations, community groups and residents will continue through the planning process.
With its long history of serving the community as a church, the new space, once complete, will welcome the Saint Luke’s United Church congregation while also opening the doors to an expanded range of arts, culture and programming.
