Built in 1848, the Cooper and Gillespie Terrace at 191-197 Church Street, just north of Shuter Street, is one of the oldest semi-surviving rows in the city and a rare example of its preserved Georgian architecture. It was probably rebuilt by John Aspinwall Tully in 1856 after fire damage. Tully may have also been the row's original architect. In the 1970s, 195 Church Street was completely destroyed by another fire. After the lot sat empty for several years, a replica building was constructed in 1981. At first glance, the modern addition blends in with its ancestral siblings.

In 2020, CentreCourt development and Parallax Investment Corporation bought and demolished the majority of 191-197 Church Street to a make way for a 39-storey condominium. The in-construction 199 Church Street tower will incorporate the old Cooper and Gillespie Terrace façades into its base. Meanwhile, in December 2020, the City of Toronto designated 191-197 Church Street under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. It's unclear whether the designation took effect before or after the buildings were mostly demolished. Heritage designation does not necessarily prevent demolition, but merely requires municipal approval to demolish.

(Research and text by Alessandro Tersigni.)

• Architect - John Tully  <-- More buildings by this architect.
• Architect - Mekinda, Snyder & Weis  <-- More buildings by this architect.