What's Cookin? Church Kitchens and Economic Development

The decline of religious attendance in the U.S. has left hundreds of empty and underutilized spaces. Many are being redeveloped into affordable housing – but that solution often requires the demolition of the original sacred space and the disruption of fabric of the community. In addition to their inherent architectural value, these buildings often have two things in common – large open spaces for meetings and some sort of kitchen.
Based on the forthcoming case study of the Wilmington Kitchen Collective, this session will equip participants with the skills needed to asses community potential for economic development programs housed in empty or underutilized houses of worship.
Topics covered include Community Engagement, Overcoming Regulatory Barriers, Funding and Historic Preservation.