What a Church and Strip Club have in Common

Some buildings require extra special attention while zoning to account for traffic. Take this one for example:

July 2009 image of the Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship. Copyright 2012, Google.

This is a church just west of the Bloor/Lansdowne intersection in Toronto (as if the sign on the building didn't give that away...), and has been here for about 70 years. According to their website, they spend a good deal of their time feeding some of the city's homeless, which is aces in my book. There are three congregations in this building that use it throughout the week; along with the Bloor Landsdowne Christian Fellowship, the Maranatha Fellowship Church Of The Deaf and Igreja do Evangelho Quadrangular de Toronto (Portuguese) have services here too.

Churches are somewhat interesting compared to businesses, in that their "clientele" come nearly all at once, a few times a week. This usually creates a number of logistical problems; a traditional business sees clients dispersed throughout the week (and throughout the day!) rather than in large "clumps" at specific times. For many older churches, this isn't a problem; they'll generally plan their location to have a parking lot that their congregation can use. This church however, has no space for a parking lot. I suspect they rely on the Bloor-Danforth subway to ferry worshipers here on Sundays, and on the nearby Value Village parking lot for whatever car traffic they get (although this would conflict with the store's hours, and there is nothing on the church's website to suggest that people park there). 

Here's another example of a land "use" that is wildly different than a traditional business:

July 2009 image of Club Paradise. Copyright 2012, Google.

This is, if the sign didn't properly indicate, a strip club, not a gym (oh, how I was once young and foolish in Toronto...). This place is also located near the Bloor-Danforth subway. I don't know exactly how long they have been at this location, but it has been several years at least.

Whereas some business are looking at closing once 5pm hits, that's just when this place is opening. Parking is likely a much different matter than a church, in that it is relatively consistent in volume, but likely doesn't compete with other establishments for parking. A club dedicated to naked dancing ladies is not likely to endear itself to a neighbourhood, but at the same time it does bring a bit of night-life to the area, and both a grandmother looking for Jesus and a gentlemen looking for a lap dance are both eyes on the street.

While the website for this establishment is mum, all reviews of this place suggest that yes, this place does serve alcohol, so that's another blow against needing space for parking, when taxis can do the job just fine. Most clubs have issues with noise complaints, but I can attest that I have walked by this place during its hours of operation, and didn't hear a peep of loud music (I have a friend who lives nearby, I swear!). The second floor is residential, so there is likely some excellent sound proofing between club activities and the people who live above.


And for the reveal:

July 2009 image of two PERFECTLY COMPATIBLE *cough* land-uses. Copyright 2012, Google.

Sometimes Toronto, you make me smile.

(Dec 17th Update: I was asked to make a note that these are two different buildings on two different properties. I apologize if the image above makes it seem otherwise!)