Plans to redevelop Bloor Street United Church — including a condo tower on the property — are causing concern among area residents, says Councillor Adam Vaughan.

If approved by the city, the revamped church will feature space for community activities like choir and yoga classes. The United Church of Canada hopes to move its headquarters here from Bloor St. W. and Islington Ave.

“We appreciate that there’s an attempt to try and bring the head office of United Church to Bloor Church,” said Vaughan (Trinity-Spadina). “Whether or not you have to build a 40-storey condominium to do that is another issue.”

Vaughan said he has heard almost “universal” objection to the height and density of the proposed construction from his constituency.

“It’ll raise significant concerns that the local character will be damaged, that there’ll be a danger of the building being replicated at other sites, and therefore causing a stampede of 40-storey buildings. That will have a devastating impact on the health of the neighbourhood.”

Plans on its website show the church, at the corner of Huron St. and Bloor St. W., with its original façade connected to a square glass building. The condo is behind it.

But Michael Hilliard, chair of the church’s redevelopment committee, says the plans are preliminary and the church is consulting with residents to come up with a design that works for everyone.

“(We won’t) go ahead until we’ve got some comfort that we’ve achieved that,” he said.

Church members met with Vaughan and residents last week to discuss the project, and start the process of getting council approval. Bloor Church and United Church have not yet submitted an application to the city.

The proposed building will raise funds to keep the 125-year-old church running, said Hilliard. “There’s a smaller group of us that don’t have the financial capacity to continue to keep the entire operation going. This we see as a way to try to do that.”

Redevelopment will also allow Bloor Church to incorporate the United Church headquarters, said Bill Kennedy, spokesman for the United Church. “Rather than renting from a commercial organization, we’d be paying ourself. It’s a feeling of grounding the national office in a ... congregation that has local outreach.”

The United Church’s lease in Etobicoke, where it has been since 1995, runs out in 2015. Facing higher rent, the church conducted a national search for new headquarters. After receiving 15 proposals, it chose Bloor Church last November. They aim to complete the building in 2017.

Many other Toronto churches feature amenities unrelated to worship.

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Various community groups operate at Runnymede United Church, including Girl Guides, Overeaters Anonymous, High Park Choirs of Toronto and Ultrafit Boot Camp, a fitness and nutrition program.

St. Luke’s United Church on Sherbourne St. hosts film shoots, and says it provides “excellent amenities” for film crews. The church also rents out its sanctuary, chapel, parlour and gym.

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