A popular rehearsal space on trendy Geary Avenue has sold to a controversial millennial-focused church group.
The Rehearsal Factory, a landmark in the artistic community for its studio and jam space, has sold its Geary location to C3 Church Toronto for $7.9 million, according to public property records.
The sale was first reported by Exclaim! magazine. Rehearsal Factory owner Chris Skinner told the magazine they are working on a lease agreement to allow the studio to continue operating for “about three to five years.”
The Star could not immediately reach either Skinner or a representative of C3.
Rumours of a pending sale sparked concern in the artistic community and among area residents this summer after C3 Toronto posted online that it had purchased the site as its new home, claiming closing costs of $13.5 million as it pushed to fundraise for its expenses.
The sale date on public documents is listed as Sept. 23, 2021 — several months after Skinner told the Star he had yet to accept any offers for the site following a listing online, and months after the church alleged it had settled on a deal.
The church, on a page on its website that now appears to be deleted, said it planned to build a three-storey multi-purpose building with a 300-seat auditorium for worshippers, a kids’ space, a rehearsal studio — and in the future, a 1,500-seat place of worship.
But current land use laws don’t allow a place of worship to operate out of that space and would require council’s approval to allow it — an arduous process for any land owner and a decision that can’t be appealed.
Since then, the church appears to have scaled back its vision — for now.
In an October brochure, plans now include relocating its head office, a “film and creative studio” and a facility to distribute charitable packages to local organizations — uses that could fit into the existing rules. The brochure calls that vision “Phase 1” of construction.
The church is an offshoot of C3 Global, founded in Australia and known for uplifting music, Instagram-friendly messages and young, hip pastoral staff.
But it has faced criticism for its stance on same-sex marriage. A change.org petition launched this summer garnered over 2,800 signatures against the organization moving into the ever-popular community — home to trendy bars, restaurants and galleries north of the downtown core.
The Rehearsal Factory’s Richmond Street site was also sold this August for $8.9 million to a holding company, land records show.
The company is currently still running out of the site on Geary, one on Front Street, another in Etobicoke and two more in the GTA.
