St. James United Methodist Church – Transforming Property for Mission and Community Impact
- VEREP
- Aug 2
- 1 min read
St. James United Methodist Church in Alexandria turned a challenging decision about its property into an opportunity to both support affordable housing and expand its ministries.
By selling its property to AHC, Inc., a nonprofit affordable housing developer, St. James helped create St. James Plaza, a 93-unit affordable housing development, along with market-rate townhouses that brought new vitality to the neighborhood.
With proceeds from the sale, St. James purchased a nearby vacant nondenominational church and parking lot, establishing a new worship space for its congregation. The church also acquired an adjacent single-family home dedicated to mission work. Its two-car garage now houses the West End Food Pantry, which serves 50 to 90 families each week with support from five partner churches in Alexandria’s West End.
This move addressed pressing housing needs in the community and positioned St. James to grow its ministries and partnerships in new and meaningful ways.
Is your congregation sitting on underused property?
Redevelopment can open doors for mission and meet real community needs. Contact VEREP to start a conversation about how your church can take the first step.
