Cohort Witnesses Churches' Work to House Neighbors in Charlotte

The Rev. Matt Conner, pastor of Newell Presbyterian Church, talks with cohort participants about his church's plans to build 50 townhomes for purchase by families priced out of Charlotte.

Pastor Matt Conner asked the members of Newell Presbyterian Church in Charlotte to walk the 4-acre field next to their sanctuary and listen for God’s dream for the property. They listened. And they heard a call: to build affordable housing for their neighbors.

This summer the church and developer DreamKey Partners will break ground for 50 townhomes for purchase by families who are priced out of Charlotte.

Conner said the church’s discernment and ultimate decision came by reflecting on a crucial question: “Why are we here?”

Newell was one of three churches visited today by participants of The Sacred/Civic Placemaking Project, Sympara’s peer-learning experience. Six North Carolina churches and one nonprofit organization are exploring the possibility of building affordable housing on their properties.

Launched in February, the eight-month cohort equips participants to discern their calling to a particular type of affordable housing or population, engage their neighbors in visioning, determine how to achieve both missional impact and financial sustainability, and prepare for the multiyear journey with developers, funders, and programmatic partners.

The group of about 20 cohort participants from Winston-Salem, Greensboro and Raleigh took a field trip to Charlotte to learn from other leaders.

They toured Easter’s Home, a 21-apartment permanent supportive housing community opening this summer in the former education building of Caldwell Presbyterian Church. The future residents, formerly unhoused individuals, will pay no more than 30% of their income for rent. They will also receive case management services.

Easter's Home, a 21-unit permanent supportive housing community, is an adaptive reuse of the former education building at Caldwell Presbyterian Church.

DreamKey COO Fred Dodson described the adaptive reuse of the two-story building as constructing “a box within a box.” The spacious studio apartments have high ceilings and kitchenettes. Stained glass windows have been preserved at the front of the building and will fill the community with light, said Pastor John Cleghorn.

The cohort’s field trip ended at Sugaree Place, a 51-unit community developed by DreamKey on the property of Mayfield Memorial Missionary Baptist Church for people earning 30% to 80% of area median income.

Mayfield’s pastor, the Rev. Dr. Peter Wherry, spoke of the long journey to build the community. The vision came from heartbreak: seeing the struggle of neighbors beset by gangs and drugs in a city with a widening chasm between rich and poor.

Many developers told Wherry the church’s vision wasn’t realistic. But another reality unfolded. The first residents moved into their new homes in September 2023.

“It’s possible,” Wherry told the cohort participants.

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Sympara will start recruiting congregations soon for the next cohort. Email Daniel Pryfogle at daniel@sympara.org if you’re interested in learning more.