The Abbey Lofts – 384 Sunnyside Ave

If only Quasimodo of Victor Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame had an eye for design, his bell tower would have been a hot bachelor pad in the heart of Paris. Fast forward to 21st century Toronto and church conversions are the latest real estate craze and have been cropping up across this city for the past few years.

When done right these conversions make for a unique home for buyers, with period lighting fixtures, restored stained glass, vaulted ceilings and limestone and brick masonry not found in the conventional condo towers. So why are so many churches up for sale? Lack of financial support and declining membership are forcing some church leaders to combine parishes and sell off properties. In some cases these churches don’t survive. They’re demolished and replaced with townhomes or condo towers. But the lucky ones are designated under the