Churches to Condos- Not a Novel Phenomenon
Across the country as congregations move out developers are moving in, converting houses of worship into, well, houses. Conversion projects have been completed in Denver, Baltimore, Boston, and many other cities over the past twenty years. When considering new life for a former church, residential is not the first use that comes to mind, but it certainly makes sense where the market will support it. Developers can produce an interesting housing option for city dwellers who want to shun the cookie-cutter feeling of a new-build complex. The clinchers generally are high ceilings and windows with a deep layout that will allow for creative design. Their size and open design allow developers to carve out multiple level units with towering ceilings and arched windows running the height of the condominium.
Buffalo joined the church-to-home trend in 1994 when developer Robert Priore converted the Full Gospel Tabernacle at 231 Richmond into Bryant Parish Commons. The $1.7 million conversion created 16 condominiums, some two stories tall, including indoor parking in the basement. Resale units are typically priced from $110,000 to $190,000. SEB Development is converting a former church on Tacoma Avenue into the Lofts at North Park. Work there is expected to be completed in July.
While the exterior hasn't changed much at Bryant Parish Commons, the Riverdale Presbyterian Church in the Greektown section of Toronto shows a more drastic transformation. Erected in 1920, the cavernous building was retrofitted in the late-1990's into 32 multi-level loft residences. At this ambitious conversion, windows and patios were punched through the roof, skylights were added, and decks and patios were inserted where soaring two-story windows once stood. The development, called The Glebe, is located at 662 Pape Avenue near Danforth.
The attraction of a church conversion is the location, the space and the uniqueness. Most loft developments occur in industrial buildings located on the city's fringes. But churches sit in the heart of communities, often on leafy residential streets. With a multitude of surplus churches expected due to the Catholic Diocese's restructuring, we may be seeing additional sacred places becoming living spaces.
Photo Credit: Joan Fedyszyn
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Harvey Garrett
Buffalo has been blessed (pun intended) with several great re-uses of churches. The Ashbury Church, the Upper West Arts Center, the Bryant Parish Condominiums (pictured above), two Karpeles Manuscript Museums (one on Porter, one on North), and now the potential Elmwood project. Churches are very difficult to reuse. I know other cities have been sucessful with similar conversions (no pun intended) - I wonder if any other cities have had as much sucess as Buffalo in this very specialized re-use catagory?
Harvey
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paul
I have been to a very cool resaurant/brew pub in a former church in Pittsburgh. I don't remember the name and I have also been to the, rather upscale, restaurant The Church in Stratford, ON. Both are good uses of what might have been torn down.
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momo
this is an area i def. agree with you guys. Tearing a church down is not a good alternative. Reuse for condos has been done in several areas. Boston has one of the nest condo reuse programs of churches anywhere. They were selling 1500sf condos in a church for over $600,000 each
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M Rodgers - West Village
I remember spinning at a church in Webster, NY back in the 70's (I think the name was Michael's) - it was a great nightclub and the sound booth was in the balcony overlooking the dancefloor. Only I did feel a little sacreligious back then ( I used to be Catholic) since the altar area was the bar.
I'm all for the condo conversions now. Especially if management takes care of the properties.
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Perry Fisher
If the local zoning allows, de-sanctified churches make wonderful antiques/home furnishings locations. One smaller old church near me has become an antiques store specializing in historic lighting fixtures and re-claimed architectural hardware. The ceiling heights allow chandeliers to be displayed to their best advantage. The owners have made the attached rectory a second home.
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BuffaloPundit
I remember a beautiful such condo conversion at the Northeast corner of Beacon Street & Mass Ave in the Back Bay of Boston.
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bman
I've been in several of the Bryant Parish Commons condos and they are beautiful. In particular the one with the tower that you can actually go into. A great reuse of space. I can't think of a single reason why we should ever take another church down in this city. Or why one should not be converted after the congregation flees.
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Lou
Id support anything that keeps our historic and handcrafted churches intact and part of the community.
These buildings anchor a neighborhood.
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buffaloevenflow
A church in Lockport, built in 1843, was just this past year converted into the Erie Canal Discovery Center and Lockport Visitor Center. It's located at 24 Church St., within walking distance of the locks. A website is up but there aren't many pictures. Anyone interested in more info. or pictures should contact canaldiscovery@aol.com. The website is:
http://www.eriecanaldiscoverycenter.org/index.htm
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paul
I am a transplant to Buffalo - so I didn't hear this in 4ht grade social studies, but I was told that Buffalo has more churches - per capita than any other city in the U.S. Has anyone else heard this? Just asking.
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