For COGIC, building low-income housing in Memphis is part of the mission

MEMPHIS — By early-October, the office phone at the Pontotoc Townhomes was ringing off the hook.

The Church of God in Christ, which owns the property formerly known as Owens Place Townhomes, is currently adding 20 apartment units to the development, with plans to open the new building in early November when the denomination returns to Memphis for its annual Holy Convocation.

It’s just the latest move in COGIC’s commitment to create more low-income housing in Memphis, the center of the world’s largest African American Pentecostal denomination. And, the opening of the 20-unit building is just a precursor to COGIC’s future plans for low-income housing.

“It’s all about the community and the people,” said Bishop Darin Burns, director of economic development for COGIC. “It’s just that simple. I think that is your faith. When people think about Jesus what we’re supposed to do, we take care of the poor, we take care of the elderly, we take care of the children. That is your faith. That’s what we’re called to do. It’s that simple. That’s just what we’re called to do, serve.”

In Memphis, there’s a shortage of more than 30,000 quality affordable housing units, according to the Community Alliance for the Homeless.

And, the average income of housing assisted residents is just $13,023, according to the Memphis Housing Authority.

The Pontotoc Townhomes development, with 81 units, was built in 2002 through a partnership with First Tennessee Housing Corporation. Since then, COGIC has acquired the property in full.

In 2018, COGIC, alongside John Stanley Inc., opened the Mason Homes development with 77 units, costing $12.5 million.

The units are about 99% occupied at all times, Burns said, showing the strong need for affordable housing in Memphis.

The 20 units being added to Pontotoc Townhomes, at the cost of around $3.8 million, is the first time COGIC is the developer of record.

Last week, Debbie Coats and Barbara McCoy looked around one of the new units as workers installed countertops and cabinets.

The two women, both residents of Pontotoc Townhomes, said the new spaces were beautiful, with some units showing a view of downtown Memphis. Each includes a washer and dryer and has one bedroom.

But neither wanted to move from their own homes on the other side of the development, homes they said were “perfect” for them. Coats has lived in the development since 2008, after her children grew up. McCoy has lived there since 2002 when the development first opened.

The development is gated, with trees turning red and yellow with the first signs of fall. A playground has been added in recent years for children, and everything is run with professionalism from the front office by Frieda Gardener.

Residents are income-qualified, with income thresholds dependent on the size of the unit and family and set by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency.

If a tenant moves out of that income bracket, they’re allowed to remain in their home, just paying market-rate rent.

“(COGIC) is putting money into the people,” Coats said. “People need to stay where they feel comfortable at.”

A member of COGIC herself, McCoy said the development is just as good if not better than other housing developments.

The downtown location also provides proximity to bus routes, to shopping and restaurants and to the excitement of Beale Street, she said.

“It’s perfect for me,” McCoy said. “I like the action, everything about it. In fact, if I ever thought about moving somewhere else it would have to be in this area. And it was just right. It looked pretty and everything. … It’s been home.”

When COGIC first got into the business of housing, leadership talked about offering rent at the market rate, Burns said.

“But what happened is we said what is the church’s true mission?” Burns said. “Our passion is going to be affordable.”

Low-income housing has become an even greater need in Memphis since the COVID-19 pandemic, said Ashley Cash, director of the City of Memphis’ Division of Housing and Community Development. Rents increased, people lost their jobs and mortgage prices went up.

Memphis has community development corporations and nonprofits invested in housing, but also is unique in that it has “really great churches and church partners who are committed to their neighborhoods and communities and have land or vision or sometimes both,” Cash said.

Leadership in COGIC “get it” when it comes to the need for low-income housing, Cash said, and the city is happy to partner with them.

The $12 million Mason Homes development was partly funded by a $4 million loan from the division. The development also received tax-exempt revenue bonds and a 20-year PILOT.

“They’re a great partner. We are excited to have them,” Cash said. “I know COGIC, the membership and bishops, are just passionate and we’re excited to have them be supportive of affordable housing.”

Not only does COGIC know it’s important, but “they’re willing to put their mission, their money and their energies into affordable housing,” Cash said.

Burns dreams of building more units at the back of Pontotoc Townhomes, hoping the church will one day purchase properties up and down Vance to build.

For now, that’s just a dream. But COGIC also has more immediate plans, plans to do senior housing across the street from the historic Mason Temple. The goal is to build 95 units — the largest housing development COGIC will have participated in — and to have it finished in the next 24 months, Burns said.

“We were going to do something smaller, but the need is too great,” Burns said. “Why would we do 30 or 40 when we need 100? By faith, we’re going to get it. … There’s just a huge need for affordable housing in Memphis. There’s a need for people with vouchers, for people with lower income to find housing. We’re trying to find creative ways to meet the need.”

While Burns lives in Detroit and members of COGIC are spread across the country, the denomination has a special connection to Memphis, where it is based and where the Pentecostal General Assembly of the Church of God in Christ first convened in 1907.

In 2018, COGIC announced plans to bring its 10-day Holy Convocation back to Memphis in 2021 after 11 years holding the meeting in St. Louis.

That return to Memphis was stalled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Holy Convocation going online.

That means this year will be the Convocation’s return to Memphis, with an excess of 25,000 estimated attendees meeting from Nov. 8-15.

Working on low-income housing is a key part of the denomination’s mission, said J. Drew Sheard, presiding bishop of COGIC.

"The Mission of the Church Of God In Christ is to help build the lives of men and women, both spiritually and physically. One critical way of doing so is to help those who require more affordable housing,” Sheard said in a written statement. “We believe that a major component of the church is to meet the needs of the underserved in various capacities. We are proud to offer quality affordable housing in Memphis and grateful to God for blessing our organization in such a manner that we are able to do so and we certainly aspire to do more."

Katherine Burgess covers county government and religion. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com, 901-529-2799 or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: For COGIC, building low-income housing in Memphis is part of the mission