Another common question we’ve had is whether we found any treasures or secrets buried anywhere. Although we didn’t find any valuable treasure or bizarre objects, we did find a secret room! After 3 months of ownership, it was discovered that a piece of plywood against the concrete wall of the furnace room was actually blocking a small passageway into a 6 x 8 concrete room that exists under the front stoop of the Minister’s residence. This dark and dusty room had a covered window that may have once received coal for a heating system from days gone by. With a little work, this room will make a great wine cellar!

Other interesting discoveries behind the finished walls were the locations of original windows and doors from the first rendition of St. Mary’s as it once sat on 6th Avenue (see The Building History for details about this incredible move), and the original cedar siding that clad the building at that original location.

More renovation information and pictures to come.

The following contractors have been a major part of progress to date:

macmar Drywall and Painting (drywall and paint)

Soo Mill (building materials)

RDL Engineering (engineering and design)

Direct Mechanical (HVAC)

Kenagy Mechanical (ductwork)

D&R Plumbing (plumbing)

Pinder Construction (excavation, paving, water service)

A Little Reno Company - Gord Muirhead (little bit of everything)

KC Roofing (shingles, siding)

Dominic (Moe) Belsito - General Contractor

Many clues to the building history were found inside the walls throughout construction. In addition to interesting tidbits of history (like a receipt from a Finnish grocery co-op that once existed to the west of the building) were structural clues to changes that happened between the 1920s and 1960s. The most interesting feature was uncovering a triple arch window that had been covered over in a long ago renovation which saw the original plaster and lath walls of the sacristy covered in wood veneer panels. The window once resided above the alter, and had been covered from the inside and outside at some point in history. These pictures show the uncovering of this window, which will be preserved in the building design:

The design phase of the project began with the assistance of local firm RDL Engineering. With ideas and rough sketches from the building owner, RDL created a 6 unit design that would ultimately get City approval. With the original building constructed in 3 stages between the 1920s and 1940s, many aspects of the design were challenging and required considerable thought, research and effort to overcome.

After many months of planning, permits and other pre-construction preparation, it was time to start construction. The building was still very much a church…. complete with pews, alter, hymn books, organ, safe, and other remnants of the once active church that had occupied this space. This included beautiful woodwork of the alter, railings, pulpit and pews. Much of that woodwork was saved for re-incorporation into the design. Each unit now incorporates pieces of the original woodwork. Numerous brass chandeliers were also modernized and used in the main foyer and several units.

Why convert an old church into apartments? This is a question that the building owners get regularly. People seem to be split about 50/50.…. Half think it's crazy while the other half think it's intriguing. Both are probably right.

Converting a 100 year old church into apartments with modern amenities is not for the faint of heart! Building a legal, safe and desirable property like Corner Abbey Residences takes considerable planning, time, construction…. and of course headaches. Here are pictures of the building at the time of purchase:

The Building Conversion

The property consisted of a sacristy (main section including the pews and alter platform), a banquet hall in the basement, the administration offices in the centre of the building, and a Minister’s residence on the east side of the building.

The Minister’s residence was very dated, and was the first area of the building to get renovated. It was given a complete overhaul both cosmetically and mechanically, with care taken to preserve original fixtures and trim where possible. This unit maintains the original trim, heat grills and door hardware. Original plaster walls and ceilings were also maintained where possible.

Here are pictures of the original state of the Minister’s residence.

Email : info@cornerabbey.com