Diocese of Orlando Proposes Condos for One of Its Downtown Chapels

By Ken Storey

One block from Lake Eola in the Lake Eola Heights Historic District sits an abandoned chapel. The historic chapel at 331 Cathcart Avenue was built in 1928 and served as one of the contributing structures for the Lake Eola Heights National Register of Historic Places District. Over the years the Mission Revival style chapel has served many congregations including Central Christian Church, Temple Israel, The Light and Life Free Methodist Church, and the United Pentecostal Church of Orlando. The Diocese of Orlando purchased the chapel in 1999 via a Land Trust. The chapel sold for $360,000. The St James School that is located across the street from the chapel used the building for many years before the church fell into disrepair. The Diocese submitted a plan for demolition of the three story building in 2008 but just days before the application was to go before the Historic Preservation Board the Diocese abruptly withdrew their demo plans. Since then the chapel has sadly sat unused, slowly being overtaken by the weeds that surround it. 

Then earlier in March we found out what the Diocese is now planning on doing with the church. The new proposal now calls for the three story building to be converted into five condos. The building will be known as ‘The Sanctuary.’ The first floor will be converted to a hidden parking area. The second floor will be the main living area, accessible from stairs located from the parking deck. The third floor will be where the bedrooms will be. We find an interesting design idea on the third floor. The current windows will be taken out of the northern side of the third floor (the side looking towards the residence behind the chapel). The former windows will now frame a new porch that will be in inset into the building. The roof of the chapel will be accessible via each condo providing a space for residents to gather. The roof top level will feature a bedroom, a living room, a small bathroom, and a terrace that will be able to withhold the weight of a hot tub or spa. The height should also provide some sightlines of the downtown skyline and easily a great view of fireworks whenever they happen at Lake Eola.

All images via City of Orlando Historic Preservation Board Agenda (HPB2012-00023)