A Richmond-based congregation plans to build over 200 units on its property, and a proposed state law could lead to more projects like it.
A Virginia congregation plans to build 240 housing units on property it owns, part of a growing movement by faith-based organizations to contribute to solving the housing crisis sometimes known as ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ or YIGBY, a play on the more common ‘Not in My Back Yard’ acronym. “With many U.S. congregations shrinking and aging, houses of worship are reactivating their property for the public good.”
Writing in Next City, Barry Greene, Jr. describes the Richmond project, led by Village of Faith Ministries. “The church is working to convert its Southside location — a 1.5-acre property in nearby Midlothian that includes a retail strip plus the church, itself converted from a former movie theater — into 192 apartments and 40 townhomes.” The development will be close to a grocery store, banks, and other local businesses.
The Virginia State Senate is hearing a bill that would follow in the footsteps of California legislation to reduce zoning and regulatory barriers to building housing on church land, which could open the door to more similar projects in Virginia.
FULL STORY: A Virginia Church Plans to Convert Parking into Housing
Five simple zoning changes that any city can make to increase housing affordability
Zoning for more affordable housing is not rocket science, says Donald Elliot, author of "An Even Better Way to Zone." Here’s his five-step guide to getting started.
The Matchmakers Bringing Churches and Developers Together
Several groups are serving as mediators for faith-based development, helping congregations access funding, navigate long-term development processes, and avoid developer exploitation.
St. Pete Allows Housing on Church Land, a Florida First
Religious institutions can now build housing on their properties without rezoning.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers
Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses
Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association