From Councilor Nann’s June community letter:
FORMER ST. GILES CHURCH UPDATE
For the past 5 years, The United Church of Canada, has worked in close partnership with New Vision United Church and development manager Kindred Works to identify a viable path forward for the former St. Giles United Church property at 85 Holton Street.
Following the merger of St. Giles and Centenary United Church into New Vision in 2015, and their joint relocation to 24 Main Street, the United Church initiated a comprehensive planning and feasibility review of the Holton Street property. That review explored every potential use, including affordable, mixed-income rental housing and adaptive re-use options that would have honoured the building’s history and served the broader community.
Despite that genuine effort, no viable and sustainable path forward could be found that reconciled the community’s understandable desire to preserve the site’s heritage character with the economic realities of current market conditions.
The decision to list the property for sale was not taken lightly. The United Church will be working with a listing broker, with sale proceeds to be directed toward supporting the New Vision congregation at their Main Street home, including their significant assistance to migrant and newcomer communities.
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Friends of St. Giles 