Site Renewal Update
Thanks be to God! The Building & Property Committee (BPC) is grateful to share that Knox Church has signed an agreement to lease the South portion of the Church site to a developer/operator for 99 years. Once the City of Toronto approvals are secured, the developer/operator intends to replace the existing Fellowship Centre facility with a new mid-rise residential tower. This transaction was approved by the Congregation of Knox Church in March 2021 and by the Presbytery of East Toronto in February 2022. An enormous amount of time, resources and prayer has been invested into crafting the lease document (115 pages) which will govern this relationship for the next 99 years. We thank God that this important transaction has come to fruition!
As previously noted, this transaction provides important benefits for the Church. These include:
annual lease payments that will finance the Main Phase of the renewal of Knox Church building
provision of funding for mission and ministry opportunities in the future
a new gymnasium for the exclusive use of Knox Church 40 hours/week
affordable housing units for our congregation and the wider community
15 underground parking spots
an expanded loading/garbage area for Knox Church
The BPC will now focus its attention on negotiating a parallel 99 year lease agreement with the same developer/operator for a portion of the North side of our Church site. From July to December, we’ll also oversee the construction of a new commercial kitchen in the Main Church.
We’re so grateful for your ongoing prayers! Please continue to keep the BPC in your prayers throughout this important season as we continue to work towards the renewal of Knox Church site and facilities.
The Building and Property Committee
Alex Campbell, Sam Johansen, Chris Mudiappahpillai, Channing Sze, Margaret Zhong, Tom Affleck (staff), Kevin Pasma (staff)
More on our site renewal can be read here.
Any questions can be directed to Tom Affleck, Entrepreneurial Leader, tom@knoxtoronto.org
