Got Space?
Are you a church (or other faith-based organization) with extra space not being used? Is part of your building essentially storage? Do you have more land around your church than you need for the church operations?
Faithworks can help! Under Faithworks CHOO (Community Housing Development Organization) status, we have the expertise and experience to guide you through the evaluation and repurposing of that excess space in a missional way. In essence Faithworks can serve as a development consultant.
Faithworks has a long-standing relationship with Virginia Housing, a Virginia State agency supporting housing and specifically low-income housing. Virginia Housing offers many grants in support of designing and building such housing, one of which is a Community Impact Grant (CIG). CIGs provide up to about $20,000 for feasibility and marketing studies. As a 501 c3 organization, Faithworks can apply directly or act as an intermediary for you to apply for such grants.
Case Studies
Warrenton United Methodist Church
Faithworks, Inc., a Winchester, VA faith-based real estate development consultant was retained by the Warrenton United Methodist Church to help refine the church’s vision for approximately 4 acres of ‘excess’ land. Through a lot of effort, this blessing of 4 acres has manifested into zoning approval for 44 tiny-cottages for senior, low-income veterans, courtesy of Hero’s Bridge, a non-profit focused on providing support and care for the same constituency.
For WUMC, Faithworks secured and administered a grant in excess of $20,000 to fund a feasibility study. Faithworks/I interviewed several engineers and architects, created a scope of work and solicited proposals from each and ultimately recommended Rinker Design Associates (Manassas, VA) as civil engineer and Design Concepts (Winchester, VA) as architect.
From the feasibility study, we determined we needed a zoning change. Faithworks recommended law firm Walsh Colucci, a northern Virginia land-use firm, to guide the rezoning process. After about 8 months, the rezoning was approved.
Faithworks also took the lead in drafting both the letter of intent for the ground lease between the church as landlord and Hero’s Bridge as tenant and recommended pro bono counsel to assist the church. The church’s counsel drafted and negotiated the lease between the parties with substantial guidance by Faithworks. This lease was signed by both parties early in 2025.
Faithworks will continue to serve the church in administering the lease and as its construction representative through the Hero’s Bridge design and construction. For more details, please contact Rob Seidel by clicking the link below.
Connect with Rob