Why a Raleigh church is rethinking its parking lot's future
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The corner of Dawson and Edenton streets in downtown Raleigh. Photo: Zachery Eanes/Axios
One of Raleigh's most historic churches, Edenton Street United Methodist Church, is contemplating the future of its downtown parking lot and how it can be best used going forward in a rapidly changing city.
Why it matters: The church's 1.2-acre parking lot sits in the heart of downtown Raleigh, where the church has been located since the early 1800s.
- The lot, at 310 W. Edenton St., is used primarily for parking, but it still sports an assessed value of nearly $20 million, according to county land records.
Driving the news: In February, the church formed a group to seek internal and external input on the future of the lot, and it recently hired a consultant.
- The goal is to see how the lot can be used to support the church's mission and long-term finances, while "addressing challenges of marginalized communities" and potentially providing mixed-income housing.
State of play: It's not yet clear what the church will decide to do with it, but affordable housing has come up frequently in the early discussions with local stakeholders, especially given a housing shortage that is expected to get worse.
The big picture: Churches across the country are increasingly reconsidering how their properties are being used. A growing number of them are identifying affordable housing as a part of their mission in an effort sometimes called "Yes In God's Backyard."
- Locally, Greenwood Forest Baptist Church in Cary received zoning approval to build affordable housing on its property last year.
- And Raleigh's Milner Memorial Presbyterian Church transformed into affordable housing for seniors after it ended services due to a declining congregation.
What they're saying: "Housing is top of mind for everybody, and it absolutely will be in our conversations no matter what," Fraley Marshall, a co-chair of the church's group leading the project, told Axios.
- She also noted other needs like community space for child care or workforce development.
Between the lines: The church says it is approaching this idea at a time when it isn't facing immediate financial pressure to develop and that it can take time to hold conversations and weigh outside ideas.
What they're saying: Clark Rinehart, the founder of Steeple Collective, which consults with churches, said many historic churches are looking for new ways to engage with their cities and be good neighbors.
- Many houses of faith, he noted, have land assets they may not be using as much anymore, perhaps due to declining attendance.
- "I think these churches have been activated to be a better neighbor, not just by having a soup kitchen, but by creatively thinking about how they use their assets," Rinehart, who is also a candidate for Raleigh City Council, told Axios.
What's next: Marshall said Edenton Street is not in a hurry to finalize plans and that it wants to spend this year doing listening sessions within its congregation and with community partners.
- "We are in these very early stages, and we're listening to our church members and we want to listen to the community," she said.