Indwell St. Peter’s Lutheran Redevelopment

This project is an exciting partnership with St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in downtown Kitchener and Indwell. The church had a Sunday School wing built in the 1960s that was larger than they needed. Rather than sell their building and relocate, the congregation decided to partner with Indwell to create housing on the south portion of the church and renovate the north portion, including the sanctuary, to meet their current needs. The city’s lack of affordable housing had struck the downtown congregation in a new way when they discovered a family of three living in an air vent behind their building. “Three people experiencing homelessness were living directly behind our altar as we worshipped in comfort,” says Pastor Mark Ehlebracht.

The renovated wing now includes more than 40 studio apartments across the ground, second, and third floors, along with Indwell’s new Kitchener-Waterloo regional offices and tenant support spaces.

While St. Peter’s and Indwell will continue operating independently, the redevelopment creates opportunities for connection through shared amenities including a community kitchen and enhanced outdoor courtyard. The project carefully worked within the existing building envelope, introducing an addition beneath the bridge at the church entrance and a new elevator shaft near the courtyard.

The church recently celebrated 160 years in the community and views their building’s transformation as a unique way to live out their mandate to ‘love your neighbour as yourself.’ Projects like this demonstrate how existing community assets can be thoughtfully transformed to address urgent housing needs, while preserving the character and history of a meaningful gathering space. The result is a beautiful beginning for both new tenants and lifelong church members.