225 Brunswick Avenue
A Long And Remarkable History
For over 125 years, 225 Brunswick Avenue has been an essential part of the community, serving as a hub for spirituality, learning, and social gatherings. However, its recent use as an office building disconnected it from its historical and communal roots. Now, after a careful and thoughtful conversion, the building is being transformed into a beautiful multi-residential space. It's not just a revitalization of the building, but also its surroundings. The building's rich history, serving as a place of worship for both Christians and Jews, makes it a unique and culturally significant place. Its remarkable architecture still stands, showcasing its rich past. This transformation brings new life to the building and a new role in the community, creating a wonderful opportunity for seven new homeowners.
A Place Of Worship, Learning, and Community
The building was constructed towards the end of the 19th century, featuring an ornamental design and beautiful red brick that was commonly used during that time. The bricks were sourced from a quarry located at Avenue and Davenport, and were transported down the hill off Spadina by horses. Originally, the structure was built as a Christian Gospel Mission Hall, and it served that purpose for the first two decades of its existence. However, as the area became more diverse with working-class immigrants, many from Eastern Europe, the Jewish congregation Shomrai Shabbos Anshei Estrich Minhag Sefard acquired the Mission Hall. The congregation repurposed the building as a synagogue, creating two entrances on the west side - one for men and the other for women. These entrances are still preserved and will be used as dedicated entries for two of the upper penthouses. The congregation used the site until 1965, when they moved to a larger location uptown. From 1972 to 1988, the building was occupied by the Toronto School of Arts before being converted into offices for several non-profit organizations.
A New Purpose
We are thrilled to announce the conversion of this unique building into residential space, while preserving its historical architecture and enhancing its design. Our team has worked closely with the city's planning departments, local area councillor, heritage conservation, and the Harbord Village neighbourhood taxpayer's association to create a design that both honors the building's heritage and revitalizes it for a new purpose. This type of character home is rare in the city and falls under the category of "missing middle projects" according to city planners. The Brunswick Lofts development team believes that more projects like this are necessary for the city, and we are excited to see this one finally come to life!
A Special Neighbourhood
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Annex neighborhood was home to some of Toronto's wealthiest residents. The area saw an increase in new immigrants and the establishment of the University of Toronto nearby, which led to the construction of more homes in the neighborhood between the 1870s and early 1900s. The houses in the area come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are adorned with charming Victorian accents, creating a delightful streetscape. 225 Brunswick Avenue is one such building, with its unique and whimsical decorations blending seamlessly with the rest of the neighborhood's Victorian charm.
