Thursday, August 16, 2012

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!)

5 comments:

  1. Your land use comment implies that the Church and Strip Club share common property-building. Not so the two properties are distinct and separate buildings and properties. The church building also host two other congregations: Maranatha Fellowship Church Of The Deaf and Igreja do Evangelho Quadrangular de Toronto (Portuguese). The three congregations use the buildings throughout the week. With respect to the Strip Club next door & its exploitation of women, Martin Luther expressed it well when he wrote (to paraphrase):`Wherever God plants a church, next door Satan builds a temple` By the way your photo is several years out of date. - Blessings BLCF Church

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  2. I apologize for giving the impression that they shared a common building. I will clarify that they are, in fact, different buildings and properties.

    I apologize for the old photo; it's the one ripped off of Google Maps (I am too poor to purchase a proper camera or a cell phone that has one). If you have more recent pictures, I'd gladly replace them.

    I will also add those other congregations to the post for the sake of accuracy.

    Thanks for the clarification and the comment!

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  3. Thanks for the understanding. If you would like to use a more up to date photo of the church, just go to http://blcfchurch.blog.ca browse through the photos and click on a photo and download it from the site. We just ask that you credit the source. As an additional bit of information,Value Villiage next door does not appreciate the patrons of the Club Paradise parking at the Value Village lot. So Value Villiage has gated and padlocked the lot's entrance when when VV is closed. - BLCF Church

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  4. Anonymous5:39 am

    I apologize for giving the impression that they shared a common building. I will clarify that they are, in fact, different buildings and properties.
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  5. Anonymous11:05 pm

    Pure and Undefiled Religion

    Bloor Lansdowne Christian Fellowship is a small inner-city congregation with a BIG heart. On Sunday there were about 15 people in attendance in a sanctuary that seats about 300. The walls could use a coat of paint, and the sound system was acting up. By most external measures, it would appear to be a church in need of some help. Then on Wednesday evenings, the church fills up again. This time, it fills with the grateful chatter of nearly one hundred hungry people who enjoy the hospitality the church offers during their "Community Dinner". Dignity, Love and Respect are on the menu here. It is not a "soup kitchen". It is not a "food giveaway". It is a community dinner. Free to all who enter. It is a hot meal personally served at the table to every person that walks in the door. It is fellowship and friendly conversation with anyone who desires it. It is a gift of a week's supply of bread to those who ask. It is an hour's worth of entertainment by a talented folk singer. It is an evening of dignity displayed toward any person that enters. No questions asked except one: "Can we serve you?" The contrast between Sunday and Wednesday is striking. On Sunday, fifteen people humbly bowing their heads and praying to the Father and listening to teaching from God's Word. On Wednesday, those same people reaching out to scores of needy people with a hot meal and the Love of Jesus. It is a ministry of love that quietly speaks volumes directly into the lives of the neediest people of Toronto. And I think Jesus smiles down on the Bloor-Lansdowne Christian Fellowship. James 1:27: "Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world."
    Posted by Gregg Hanchett

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