Some religious communities find latest uses for his or her premises

Faced with declining membership numbersAging buildings and enormous, underutilized properties, many American places of worship have closed their doors in recent times. Presbyterian minister Eileen Linder argued that 100,000 churches could close in the subsequent many years.

But some communities are using their land in latest ways in which reflect their faith – a spotlight of my urban planning researchSome are converting their property to create reasonably priced housing, the actual estate crisis is worsening across the country.

Take Arlington Presbyterian Church in Arlington, Virginia. In 2016, the church sold its historic stone constructing to the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing to a 6-storey complex with 173 apartments, often known as Gilliam Place. The constructing still has space for the community in addition to La Cocina, a bilingual cooking school and a restaurant. In Austin, Texas, the Catholic parish of St. Austin is working with a developer to construct a 29-story tower with 200 beds for affordable housing for college studentsalong with latest rooms for worship.

Other places of worship are pursuing similar projects today.

Same mission, latest projects

Religious organizations have been constructing housing for a few years, but generally through Acquisition of additional propertyIn recent years, nonetheless, an increasing number of houses of worship are constructing reasonably priced housing on the identical property because the sanctuary.

This may be done in several ways. Some communities Adaptation of the prevailing sanctuary and other buildings owned by the religious community, while others are demolishing existing buildings to construct a brand new settlement which will Space for the communityAnother possibility is construct on surplus land, corresponding to a car parking zone.

Depending on how a development agreement is structured, a spiritual organization may receive proceeds from selling its land or from leasing its property to a developer—money it might then spend on pastoral care or on a brand new place to worship. If a brand new project also creates space for the congregation, it can sometimes rent it out when it shouldn’t be getting used for worship, which can even profit the congregation financially.

Religious organizations often view these projects as a chance to do “God’s work.” In some cases, they include community services that transcend just housing.

Near Los Angeles, the Episcopal Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Placentia has partnered with a nonprofit reasonably priced housing developer – National Community Renaissance, also often known as National CORE – to 65 units for the elderlyThe complex also features a 140 square meter community center. The city's diocese goals to create reasonably priced housing on 25% of its 133 properties.

For some communities, these are mission-oriented projects rooted in social justice.

In Washington, DC, the Emory United Methodist Church has renovated its property and built The Beacon Center – which has 99 reasonably priced housing units, community spaces and a industrial kitchen that gives job training for recently incarcerated people – while preserving the sanctuary. In Seattle, the Nehemiah Initiative works with black churches within the Central District, a historically African-American neighborhood, to convert the properties there into reasonably priced housing and thus prevent the displacement of residents.

Potential for further development

Churches have also experimented with different housing models.

In St. Paul, Minnesota, Mosaic Christian Communitywhich is affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene, has joined forces with a corporation called Completed to construct tiny houses on the church property, including a bed, an attic, a kitchen and a small closet. Peace Presbyterian Church in Eugene, Oregon, sold its property to the reasonably priced housing nonprofit SquareOne Villages develop Peace Villagea fancy with 70 residential units.

Peace Village uses a hybrid ownership structure that gives Cooperative with limited liability with a Community Land Trustand separates land costs from housing costs. SquareOne owns the land but leases it to the co-op after which rents or sells apartments to its members, who also manage the land – a partnership that goals to maintain the fee of land reasonably priced.

As states and cities struggle to offer reasonably priced housing, studies have been conducted from Nashville To New York City the quantity of land owned by religious organizations and their potential as partners in housing.

In the Washington DC metropolitan area, for instance, the Urban Institute found: almost 800 undeveloped plots owned by religious organizations. In California, based on a report by Terner Center on the University of California, Berkeley found about 170,000 “potentially developable” acres of land owned by religious organizations and nonprofit colleges and universities.

Legal reforms

Places of worship attempting to create housing can face a lot of challenges, including zoningSome communities have difficulty adapting development plans to latest land uses, minimising parking requirements or increasing residential density.

In response, many states and municipalities have reformed laws and regulations. Washington state lawmakers approved a bill in April 2019, which provides religious organizations with a density bonus for constructing 100% reasonably priced housing on religious land – allowing a rise within the variety of units allowed to be built. In the identical 12 months, San Diego reduced or in some cases Parking requirements removed for organizations that create reasonably priced housing near public transport hubs.

In October 2023, California lawmakers will a law passed allowing religious organizations and colleges to bypass local permitting processes to create reasonably priced housing on their property.

In March 2024, Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio introduced the “Yes, in God's Backyard Act.” His “YIGBY” proposal would supply technical assistance to spiritual organizations excited by constructing reasonably priced housing.

YIGBY vs NIMBY

Another challenge for places of worship that need to create reasonably priced housing is resistance from the population.

Places of worship will not be only spiritual centers, but can be essential anchors within the neighborhood, providing social services and space for community events. They may be aesthetically pleasing and sometimes historically significant.

In New York City, for instance West Park Presbyterian Church has been fighting against the community for nearly a decade his desire to renovate the propertyThe historic church is a listed constructing and requires multimillion-dollar repairs that the congregation says it cannot afford.

Instead, the municipality wants to construct a multi-use facility that gives housing and space for the community to proceed offering arts programs and community activities. However, under town's historic preservation regulations, a chosen property can’t be demolished or altered.

Even if a redevelopment project has no legal obstacles, it might be difficult to search out the needed skills or financing. Nonprofit housing agencies corresponding to Pursue and that Support society for local initiatives have established technical assistance programs for organizations searching for to create reasonably priced housing, including places of worship. Other nonprofit groups corresponding to Bricks and Mortals, Partner for sacred places and that Campus of Faith Leadershipsponsored by Trinity Church Wall Street, can be advising on the event process.

Despite these challenges, many places of worship are constructing housing and changing people's attitudes concerning the role of spiritual organizations of their communities.

Jon Etherton, a member of Arlington Presbyterian Church, told me of the redevelopment process, “The call of God to create something for affordable housing was bigger than the building itself.”