The grassy plot of land across the street from Trinity East United Methodist Church sat empty most of the time.
The land had been occasionally used for outdoor events, food pantries and other gatherings for decades.When the Rev. Marilyn White was appointed pastor more than 11 years ago, the Houston church had already talked about turning the property into housing — though the idea had never gotten off the ground.
White saw changes in the area around Trinity East over the last 10 years. Housing costs rose, and longtime residents increasingly were pushed out…