Abundant Ground

5-Step Develop Process

Abundant Ground assists churches in utilizing their land for affordable housing development. We help you discern readiness through personalized workshops and meetings, aid in discovering development potential with feasibility studies, and guide you in creating partnerships with mission-aligned developers. Let us help transform your vision into reality.

1. Initial Conversation and Intake Form

If your church is considering using congregation land for affordable housing, please complete our Intake Form. We will then contact you to discuss next steps. We also host events for interested parties to learn more and ask questions, including personalized Discernment Workshops to help you determine if you have the time, calling, and energy for housing development.

2. Meeting and Education

We will arrange a meeting with you and other congregation leaders to discuss your vision and provide initial information about affordable housing development. We'll cover your missional goals, financial needs, and property requirements. Additionally, we will discuss different types of affordable housing, how they fit your community's needs, the development process, financial aspects, and potential partnership models.

3. Feasibility and Technical Assistance

Following our initial meeting, we will conduct a feasibility study to determine the potential for affordable housing development on your site. This study includes an analysis of zoning regulations, local attitudes toward development, site characteristics, land value and funding availability. Based on this study, we will provide a summary document outlining preliminary site plans for affordable housing and the necessary approval processes.

4. Discernment

With the information from the feasibility study, your congregation will enter a period of discernment led by your leadership and members. Our team can assist by facilitating discussions, providing relevant information to church and denominational leadership, and conducting initial outreach to the community to gather feedback. During this phase, adjustments may be made to the initial development concepts based on feedback and considerations.

5. Developer RFQ/RFP

Once your congregation decides to move forward with development, we will support you in creating a Request for Qualifications or Request for Proposals (RFQ/RFP). This document will be sent to qualified developers, ensuring you find a partner aligned with your goals. We help you with interviewing developers and making sure your vision and interests are being represented. The selected developer will work with you through the entitlement, construction, and leasing phases of the development process. We are able to stay connected to the project if needed.

We Help You Navigate Key Decision Points

  • Who will live here and what can be built?

  • How should we navigate the land deal and legal aspects effectively?

  • Where can we secure funding for the affordable housing project?

  • What strategies can we implement to address potential parking challenges?

  • How can we ensure the project's financial sustainability and benefit the congregation in the long term?

  • Who are the ideal partners for construction, property management, and community outreach, and how can we ensure alignment with our values?

  • How might the proposed development impact the surrounding environment, and what steps can we take to mitigate any negative effects?

  • What support is available for navigating the approval processes required for the project?

  • How can we engage with the local community to gather feedback and ensure their needs are considered in the project development?