Demolition of the former United Church building in 2024 for an affordable housing project transformed the streetscape forever in Chilliwack's downtown core.
The demolition process took a few months and watching it gave many long-time residents pleasant memories associated with the historic church.
Project partners Cheam View United and Mamele’awt Qweesome/To’o Housing Society were thrilled to announce plans to build a six-storey building with affordable rental housing for seniors and low-income residents.
Station One Architects designed renderings featuring an L-shaped building to house 64 units on the half-acre site at Spadina Avenue and Main Street. The plan is to offer 20 “affordable market rental” units, 33 “rent-geared-to-income” units, and 11 “deep subsidy” units.
A “club or lodge” will be used by the Cheam View United team for their programming.
The church's stained glass panels were carefully removed and relocated for safekeeping until they can be transformed into something new.
The church has a long history in Chilliwack. The site was originally home to the Chilliwack Methodist Church, built in 1908. The Methodist Church entered into a union with the United Church in 1925. Construction began in 1953 on a new and larger church structure to accommodate a growing congregation, and the Chilliwack United Church opened its doors in 1954.
More than 65 years later, Cheam View United Church was born when Chilliwack United amalgamated with Mt. Shannon United and Rosedale United in 2020.
Cheam View officials donated the church property for the project, and BC Housing contributed as well.
The development permit and building permit were issued in July as the next steps in the development of the downtown site, with the rezoning and variances applications approved in December 2023, after a November public hearing.
Chilliwack council waived the associated fees and development cost charges (DCCs) totalling almost $1.2 million for the affordable housing project at the Nov. 19 council meeting.
There's a tentative plan to break ground in the new year, followed by a 20-month construction period.
