Canadian developer Kindred Works, known for their sustainability-minded development practices, has recently filed a Site Plan Approval application for their Lawrence Avenue East rental project, which will deliver 148 new housing units and include the retention of a historic church.
Original plans filed in 2022 by the developer called for an 11-storey rental building and two rows of three-storey townhomes offering a total of 100 housing units, plus the partial demolition of Wexford Heights United Church — a historic chapel constructed in 1925 with roots on the site going back to 1842 when Wexford Heights parishioners would attend sermons in a log chapel called Twaddles Chapel.
After discussions with City staff, community feedback, and a changing policy and economic landscape, original plans were revised last April to add one storey to the 11-storey rental building, pivot the townhomes into an attached six-storey rental building, and retain the historic chapel in full to provide residential amenity space. As well, the cemetery will remain untouched, as was outlined in the 2022 plans.
With the Site Plan filed, the developer is now one step closer to delivering much-needed housing to the Wexford/Maryvale neighbourhood. As is Kindred's mandate, the building will also have a low-carbon design with features ranging from high-efficiency, all-electric mechanical systems to EV charging and on-site renewable energy production.
"As with all Kindred Works projects, homes at 2102 Lawrence will be beautiful, low-carbon, and desirable to live in," says Kindred Works' development webpage. "With an emphasis on maximizing green space and programmed amenities, this project will provide residents with resilient comfort for generations to come."
Approved for the site via the successful 2022 Zoning By-Law Amendment application is the 12-storey rental apartment building, which will be connected with the historic chapel fronting Lawrence Ave. Attached north of the chapel would be the six-storey rental apartment building, with a playground, communal garden, and visitor parking located along the site's northeastern curve.
At grade, future residents would find 1,765 sq. ft of indoor amenity space, the residential lobby, and three incorporated two-storey townhome units. Residents would also enjoy outdoor amenity spaces in the form of the playground and communal garden.
In the floors above would be 145 rental units divided into 30 studio units, 66 one-bedrooms, 31 two-bedrooms, and 18 three-bedrooms. Available to residents would be 124 vehicle parking spaces, including 22 visitor spaces, and 146 bicycle parking spaces.
The development will feature chic designs from KPMB Architects that utilize light brick masonry to compliment the historic chapel's exterior. The simple yet sleek design also includes green roofs, in line with Kindreds' eco-friendly principles.
Zooming out, the development site sits on Lawrence Ave. E, midway between Warden Ave. and Birchmount Rd. Located on and within close proximity to major arterial roads, the rental apartments would be well serviced by surface transit routes like the TTC bus routes 54 and 354 at Lawrence Ave. and Eglinton Dr. and the 68 and 968 at Lawrence and Warden Ave. The under-construction Eglinton Crosstown LRT line and the planned Scarborough Subway Extension will also be located in close proximity to the site.
2102 Lawrence Ave. E/KPMB Architects
2102 Lawrence Ave. E/KPMB Architects
2102 Lawrence Ave. E/KPMB Architects
2102 Lawrence Ave. E/KPMB Architects
