The rise of church conversion projects in Washington (DC)

Washington Business Journal ^ | 11/19/15 | Sara Gilgore and Daniel Leon Rodriguez

[markomalley]

D.C.-area churches — as my colleague Michael Neibauer has extensively reported — are being converted to residential, office, retail and mixed-use buildings, in redevelopments that enable congregations to survive in return for their valuable real estate. Many have found refuge through developer partnerships, initiating and accepting multibillion-dollar projects designed to bring new life to their communities.

Aging infrastructure, shifting demographics and budget shortfalls have contributed to this urbanization wave for churches — challenges that in the past would have meant surrendering historic sites and moving to less developed neighborhoods, if not folding completely.

This is a pattern “we will see more moving forward,” said Don Capobres, senior vice president of development for Grosvenor Americas.

While 65 percent of the D.C. metro area’s population is comprised of Christians, 21 percent of these self-identified Christians are ages 18 through 29 years old, according to the Pew Research Center. A decrease in religious affiliation or involvement among millennials has contributed to both declining memberships and financial struggles for a number of these congregations.

However, churches are redeveloping at par with the city’s population influx, according to Edward Giefer, a public information officer with the D.C. Office of Planning.

“It appears to be consistent with a general trend of increased development of all property types in the city,” Giefer said, “due largely to recent population growth in the District.”

Take a look at our gallery of D.C. churches that have joined this movement. If we've missed any projects, please send information and photos to sgilgore@bizjournals.com.

[markomalley]

List and photos of churches being converted is here. Here are some samples:

First Baptist Silver Spring:

First Congregational United Church of Christ (10th & G NW):

Church at Clarendon, Arlington:

St Thomas Episcopal (Dupont, DC):

Mt Joy Baptist (Capitol Hill):

Riverside Baptist (Southwest Waterfront):

[sphinx]

for later

[GreyFriar]

ping

[zot]

Thanks for the ping. I hope they keep a few spaces for religious activities. Perhaps they do so in order to retain their tax exemptions.