50 Homes for Seniors Behind a 1931 Facade: Toronto’s Danforth Baptist Church Becomes Supportive Housing

• WoodGreen Community Services began building an eight-storey seniors’ housing project at Danforth Baptist Church
• The project has 50 units, including 18 with meals and 24/7 support
• Funding came from the federal Rapid Housing Initiative, city incentives and a $4 million Sprott Foundation gift
• The church’s two towers and front facade will be kept

A historic Baptist church in Toronto’s east end is being turned into supportive housing for seniors, Beach Metro Community News reported in November 2024. WoodGreen Community Services began work to convert Danforth Baptist Church, built in 1931 at Bowden Street and Danforth Avenue, into an eight-storey mixed-use building.

The project will provide 50 units: 18 with meal services and round-the-clock staff support, arranged in two clusters of nine, and 32 studio and one-bedroom apartments. Shared spaces include a commercial kitchen, laundry, lounge, dining room, courtyard, a sanctuary and offices.

Funding came from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Rapid Housing Initiative, City of Toronto incentives, a $4 million donation from the Sprott Foundation and WoodGreen’s UNMET needs campaign. Assembly Corp. is the developer. After demolition, construction was expected to take 12 to 18 months, with occupancy in late 2025 to early 2026. The church’s two towers and front facade will be kept.

“I’m proud to have worked with WoodGreen Community Services and support this initiative to build much-needed affordable seniors’ housing,” said Toronto-Danforth councillor Paula Fletcher.

The Danforth project shows how a church site can keep its landmark facade and a place of worship while adding many homes. For Jamaican churches with ageing members and valuable land, a partnership with a housing provider, backed by public funding and donors, could create seniors’ housing on church property. Toronto’s large Jamaican community will know these east-end streets, and the model could travel home.

Follow Jamaica Homes on Youtube @jamaicahomes and Instagram @jamaica_homes and on Facebook @jamaicahomesnews Send us a message or email us at onlinefeedback@jamaica-homes.com or editor@jamaica-homes.com