Religious Institutions Convert Unused Land into Affordable Housing

Religious Institutions Convert Unused Land into Affordable Housing

Religious institutions across the U.S. are repurposing unused land into affordable housing, addressing the housing crisis while generating revenue. Projects like Innovative Urban Village in Brooklyn offer thousands of units, with half reserved for low-income families. However, concerns arise about the potential loss of sacred spaces as congregations dwindle.
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Some religious institutions are turning their unused land into affordable housing. | Transcript:

A growing number of religious institutions are now turning their unused land into affordable housing. It's good news for some renters, but what does it mean for the future of houses of worship? Hannah Krieger went to East New York to find out. The majority of this land was once an overflow parking lot belonging to the Christian Cultural Center. The church contributed its land to the joint venture so that we can develop the attainable affordable housing. Now it's being developed into a fully affordable called Innovative Urban Village. Around 2,000 new units, at least 50% allocated for households between 30 to 60% area median income. Brian Kelly of Gotham Organization says the project

will also include home ownership opportunities. Our partner Christian Cultural Center entered the communities back in the 90s and as it assembled this land over time, its intended goal was to always foster something beyond the church itself. This is part of a larger spread happening nationally of faith communities being involved in building affordable housing on their land called GIGBY or Guests in God's Backyard. It's a play on the YIMBY or Yes in My Backyard movement, a national push to reform zoning laws to allow religious institutions to repurpose underutilized land for housing.

Many of them, their greatest asset is their real estate and to unlock the value of real estate but to give back to public good is a double bottom line win. But the trend has its downsides including community fears that real estate interest might tempt vulnerable faith spaces to close. A lot of congregations are dwindling. Dana DeBacker of Partners for Sacred Places works nationwide to help leaders avoid that scenario. How are we able to really talk about sacred places um as places that have civic value beyond just the congregation? But here in East New York, the Christian Cultural Center thrives next door as the first phase of the project wraps up. The

first residents are moving in this month. In Brooklyn, Hannah Krieger, CBS News, New York. Hannah is a Brooklyn native and she covers the borough for us. If you have a story idea, scan the QR code on your screen.

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