In a city where rents keep creeping up around shiny new arenas and entertainment complexes, a long-standing Inglewood church is quietly trying a different kind of redevelopment: turning its own underused buildings into homes.
The First United Methodist Church of Inglewood is converting three vacant buildings behind its chapel, formerly a school, into 60 studio apartments reserved for low-income renters, according to LA2050. The project is aimed at seniors and working families, with church and city leaders framing it as a way to reinvest in longtime neighbors as the surrounding area grows more expensive.
In a video report, CBS News Los Angeles notes that the congregation is leaning on state legislation designed to cut permitting red tape for faith-based organizations that want to build affordable housing on their land. Church leaders describe the plan as a strategy to keep the property under community control while creating stable housing options for people who might otherwise be priced out.
State Law And The YIGBY Movement
The move is part of LA Voice’s Faith in Housing program, which has been guiding congregations through site analysis, feasibility work and developer selection. Advocates say it is also a sign of how state policy is reshaping what churches can do with their land…