Hamilton Mountain church eyes high rise

Chalmers Church planningcondo development

By Mark Newman, News Staff

Facing hundreds of thousands of dollars in future renovation and upkeep costs and a shrinking congregation, Chalmers Presbyterian Church is moving forward with a unique plan, possibly the first of its kind for a church in Canada, aimed at keeping the church on Mountain Park Avenue for many years to come.

Were planning on incorporating our church into a housing community, said Reverend Dr. Victoria Eldridge, the minister at Chalmers which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005.

For the past year church officials have been working with a local architectural firm on a plan that would essentially see the church hand over its land on Mountain Park near Cliff Avenue to a developer who would demolish the two church buildings and replace them with a multi-million dollar condominium complex that could rise as high as 12 stories with underground parking.

The church in return would get and own most of the space on the first two floors that would become the new Chalmers Church.

Were hoping this isnt going to cost us any money, said Eldridge, who noted the complex will not be any higher than The Madison; a nearby 11 storey condo building that was completed in 2008.

Eldridge noted the project is still in the preliminary stage and the exact size and scope of the development, including the number of condos, has not been determined.

Unlike the current church buildings, the new church facilities would be completely accessible.

The first floor will include the sanctuary with portable seating for 150 along with a couple of meeting rooms and possibly a coffee shop.

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Hamilton Mountain church eyes high rise