Building Our New Home

During our renovations to 473 Oakwood Ave, we will be meeting online on Sunday mornings at 10:30.

Once a month, starting September 8, we will meet in person at Nia Centre for the Arts across the street at 524 Oakwood Ave.


Renovation Updates

  See the full list of posts about our renovation
  See the architect’s floor plans & renderings

  • FirstU’s Financial Situation (10 November 2024)
    Statement from Tanya Cothran and Chris Lee, Co-Presidents of the Board of Directors at FirstU;Presented at the Congregation’s Annual Fall Meeting on 27 October, 2024 Presentation ...
  • Stuff at 473 – Video – Episode 4 (24 October 2024)
    I’m at our site at 473 Oakwood. I’m standing in the long hallway that heads from the east side of the building, behind me, to ...
  • September 2024 Reno Update #4 (27 September 2024)
    Two big holes at 473 Oakwood show the progress of heavy construction this month: all of the west second floor windows facing Oakwood Ave. have ...
  • Stuff at 473 – Video – Episode 3 – Buzzing From Top To Bottom (22 August 2024)
    473 is buzzing from top to bottom this month, with a new roof covering going on, and new foundations being prepared, plus a staircase taking ...


Our New Home at 473 Oakwood Ave

473 Oakwood in 2021On September 19, 2021, a historic and joyous decision was made! 138 members of the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto participated in the vote, which passed unanimously, to purchase 473 Oakwood Ave. We signed the deal a day later and  it closed on October 20, making 473 Oakwood Avenue our new congregational home!

It had taken two years to find a suitable property as our new home. The vote to accept the offer from Plaza Corp to purchase 175 was passed on June 11 2017.  That was preceded by an equally important vote on September 25, 2016 to not pursue renovating 175 and to put the building on the market for sale.

Our new congregational home will be a place where we can meet to Seek, Connect and Serve in support of our mission to build a better world. It is a building we can own, renovate and reside in, while also inviting other community members to make use of the space.

473 Oakwood Avenue is a former postal sorting station, built in the 1960s and renovated in the 2000s to become a rental property. It consists of two floors above ground and a below-ground basement. There are welcoming entrance areas on both Oakwood Avenue and Robina Avenue.

We expect to complete our move sometime in early 2025 after it is renovated to suit our needs.


We will always hold online services on Zoom ond Youtube.

Several major transit routes provide access. Our new home, 473 Oakwood will be about a 10-minute walk from the new Oakwood Station (Eglinton line) and about 15 minutes by bus from St. Clair West (Spadina Line) or Ossington station (Bloor line).  If you’re taking the bus, it’s a 2-minute walk from the stop for the Oakwood, Rogers and Vaughan buses.


Preparing Our New Home

Following the unanimous decision in September 2021, we are on track with the renovation plans to prepare 473 Oakwood for our arrival in 2024.

On September 18, 2022, the Real Estate team led a congregational conversation (after the service) to learn about and discuss the latest cost estimates, options for funding the project, and choices to be considered. This meeting was in hybrid format (onsite and online). The following materials were provided in advance:

On September 11, 2022 after the Sunday service Karen Dunk-Green led a group of Toronto First members on a tour of the not yet renovated building.

On August 24, 2022, we passed an important milestone when we received approval from the city’s Committee of Adjustments to proceed with our plans to renovate 473 Oakwood.

On March 27, 2022, the Real Estate Steering Committee (RSC) held a congregational conversation to provide an update on the renovation project with the following reading materials provided in advance of the conversation:


Our Real Estate Journey

Since our founding, First Unitarian has managed its real estate strategy to manage both our financial and our congregational sustainability:

July 1845: Founding of First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto
113 George Street, 400-seat gabled white frame building
rented first, then purchased; then sold

1852 – 1854
purchased land to build a church at Jarvis & Dundas
held services in Ontario Hall, a local courtroom, in the meantime

November 1854
moved to newly constructed 300-seat Gothic sanctuary on Jarvis St.
survived two fires; added basement in 1876; other renovations in 1878

1947
sold Jarvis St. building as part of a Simpson’s development
purchased land on St. Clair Ave. W; renovated
from 1949 to 1951, met in the International Cinema on Yonge St

1951
moved to new modernist building at 175 St. Clair Ave. W

1990 – 1992
renovated 175 St. Clair W; services at Deer Park United

In 2007 the congregation voted to plan to move. Four committees have played a role in getting us here, with committee members collaborating with external consultants and with assistance and input from the congregation to work through a process of steps.

  • Property Options Task Force, 2006-07
    Chair: Richard Kirsh
    Environmental scan of decision factors; recommendation to keep studying
  • Vision & Property Task Force, 2007-08
    Chair: Nancy Lee
    Vision Statement as context for future real estate decisions
  • Building for the Future, 2012-14
    Chairs: Nancy Lee, then Karen Dunk-Green
    Property valued at $5-7 million. Developer proposals for a condo above us were deemed not financially viable or desirable. Need renovation study.
  • Real Estate Task Force, 2016 onward
    Chair: Karen Dunk-Green

2016: Renovation Assessment and Decision
Renovation costs and outcomes (including elevator improvements, more accessible washrooms, and more) deemed unaffordable and unsatisfying. In September 2016, the congregation voted to sell 175 St. Clair Ave. W.

2017 – 2019: Marketing and Selling
Sale finalized November 2018. Closing date (+extensions) December 2019
Leaseback arrangement (extended) until June 2022

2019 – 2021: The Search for a New Home
Many dozens of sites considered; 11 offers made, 6 rejected by owner, 5 withdrawn by us after due diligence.