Rezoning of Park Place church for apartments ignites concern over housing affordability in Norfolk

Predominantly Black community members say a developer’s plan to turn a historic Norfolk church into high-end apartments is contributing to gentrification of the Park Place neighborhood — a concern as rising rents make housing less affordable.

Beverly McDonald, one of the dozen community members who spoke in opposition to the plan at a Norfolk City Council meeting last week, said the redevelopment of Park Place United Methodist Church creates an imbalance in the community.

“These are market rate apartments. The average rent is $1,500-$2,000 for one- and two-bedroom apartments,” McDonald said. “That is not rent that the community can afford. To me, this is a form of gentrification.”

Monument Properties plans to renovate the sprawling 5,500-square-foot church building at 504 W. 34th Street. But the council’s 7-1 vote last week to rezone the property from institutional to multi-family greenlights the redevelopment.

Monument is undertaking a $14 million plan to transform the building into 60 apartments. The council’s vote comes as the city is engaged in broader redevelopment planning in the adjacent Midtown neighborhood.

The church has been a landmark on the corner of Colonial Avenue and W. 34th Street since 1917. But by 2016, the congregation dwindled to about a dozen elderly members, and the church closed its doors after a century of service.

When the church disbanded, the deed went to the Elizabeth River District of the United Methodist Church Mission Board, which placed the property on the market in 2018, according to a representative from the mission board who spoke during the council meeting. The Elizabeth River District received six offers — all of which fell through — before Monument Properties proposed to redevelop the building.

The building hasn’t sat vacant, however. Since closing, the mission board has allowed community groups to host meetings, and a number of start-up churches and service organizations have also rented space, said Tom Mercer Sr., vice chair of the mission board. The groups have organized events such as a free clothing closet, food pantry and a weekly community supper.

“We have been delighted to be able to have these wonderful ministries continue in this building,” Mercer said. “But the upkeep of the building is beyond the means of the Board of Ministry. Monument Properties made a proposal that — while it is not a congregation — is probably the best use of this property considering the rehabilitation that is needed for it.”

According to Chris Johnson, co-founder of Monument Properties, 10% of the units have been set aside for affordable housing.

“This was required by the city as part of the rezoning,” Johnson said.

The Park Place church development project comes at a time that rental prices are soaring across the country. A recent study by Zumper, a rental property finder website, found the median rent prices for one- and two-bedroom apartments in Norfolk are $1,130 and $1,340 respectively. The study noted the price of a two-bedroom apartment in Norfolk is up 22.9% since this time last year.

Lateef Rasheed told the council during the March 22 meeting that he did two tours of duty in Vietnam and returned to Norfolk “just in time to see Ghent being gentrified.”

“They told us they were going to build these affordable houses in Ghent. And they were affordable — for the rich, but not for us,” Rasheed said.

When asked to address residents’ concerns, a Norfolk government spokesperson highlighted the city’s recent efforts to create more affordable housing opportunities for residents.

“The Department of Planning implemented multi-family design guidelines that require that all developments include inclusionary units, which the developer is doing,” said Kelly Straub, Norfolk spokesperson.

Straub also said Norfolk established the Department of Housing and Community Development in July to “champion housing preservation, revitalization and neighborhood transformation.” The city plans to participate in a new online auction of city-owned vacant residential property next month. The auction, Straub said, was designed to “be accessible and align with the city’s priorities around affordable housing and neighborhood strategic plans.”

Residents were also concerned the redevelopment means they would lose access to a location that has hosted community meetings and services.

Among the speakers in opposition of rezoning the property was James Washington, who has used the property to offer community outreach services to the area’s homeless population and high-risk youth.

“To do this is a spit in our face and a spit on our community,” Washington said.

Krysta Franks said a community pastor has been offering free ministry services to neighborhood children at the church.

“Every time I turn around there is something going on in the church and in the parking lot for the community. And that parking lot is packed because so many people depend on that,” Franks said.

Dale White, who was married in the church, said the approval of the multi-family zoning is “an abomination” that will displace vital ministry services that help cut down on violent crimes.

“Turning a 100-year old place of worship in a needy community into high-end apartments and townhomes — Monument Properties can do better than that. The mission board can do better than that,” White said.

Councilmember Mamie Johnson, who represents Ward 3, asked the council to consider assisting community outreach programs who provided services at the church with finding a new location.

“The church decided to sell to whomever they chose to sell to. The city does not have control over that,” said Johnson, who voted in favor of the rezoning. “I am proposing that the governing body find the resources needed for the groups who were providing services to the people in Park Place so that their ministry can continue.”

City officials did not specify whether the city will help to relocate affected organizations in accordance with Johnson’s proposal.

The site was also rezoned as a historical landmark in the same vote. As a result, Monument Properties will have to obtain approval for changes throughout the church from the city’s Architectural Review Board.

Monument Properties is the company behind the redevelopment of Linde Lofts and the Peanut Factory Flats, both located in the Railroad District at Park Place. While the shell of the properties remain in accordance with historical landmark zoning laws, the interior was redone to accommodate apartments. The base price for a 650-square-foot apartment is around $1,300 per month, according to the properties’ websites.

Caitlyn Burchett, caitlyn.burchett@virginiamedia.com