Scottsdale Church Sparks Controversy With Parking Lot Housing Plan

A Scottsdale Church Tackles the Housing Crisis with a Bold New Project

A church in Scottsdale, Arizona, is taking a bold step to address the growing housing crisis by proposing a three-story apartment complex on its parking lot. This initiative has sparked both support and concern within the community.

Scottsdale United Methodist Church, which has served the area for over a century, sees this as an opportunity to expand its mission of helping others. The proposed development is located east of Scottsdale Road and north of Indian School Road. The church is partnering with developer Gorman & Co. to bring the project to life. Recent plans have been submitted to the city, including visual representations of what the complex could look like.

The apartments would be built on the church's current parking lot, while the sanctuary will remain intact. The project aims to provide affordable housing options for residents who earn no more than 80% of the area’s median income. Renters would need to qualify for the units, ensuring that the homes are available to those most in need.

Shelby Gall, a salon manager who works across the street, supports the idea. “To me, it’s absolutely astounding and amazing,” she said. “I’m a big follower of Christ and with everything going on in the world, it’s just heartwarming to hear that a church wants to help its community out.”

However, not everyone is convinced. Scottsdale City Councilman Barry Graham acknowledges the need for more affordable housing but believes this project may not be the right solution. He argues that the development could increase traffic and congestion in an already densely populated area, leading to parking issues. Additionally, he is concerned that the city council and local residents have limited power to stop the project due to a 2012 law that allows Old Town Scottsdale businesses to build housing without requiring a rezoning permit.

“This means residents don’t get a say in converting this parcel from an amenity, house of worship for fellowship and connection into dense residential, with intense parking demands, traffic demands, city resource demands and all that goes with it,” Graham said.

Despite these concerns, the church remains committed to its vision. The project is intended to provide stable, affordable homes for essential workers in the community, such as daycare employees, new teachers, pharmacy staff, and retail workers. All residents would pay rent that does not exceed 30% of their income.

Pastor Jamie Booth of Scottsdale United Methodist Church emphasized the church’s long-standing dedication to serving the community. “This proposal will include 82 apartment homes for people who live and work here in Scottsdale,” he said. “These are the daycare employees who care for children, the new teachers starting out in our schools, the pharmacy staff, and retail workers who keep local stores running.”

The project was inspired by the church’s desire to use its resources to support neighbors in a new way. “We asked ourselves how we could use our property to serve our neighbors in a new way, and this is where that prayerful discernment led us,” Booth explained. “As a United Methodist congregation, we believe every person deserves safe, stable housing. This is one way we are putting that belief into action.”

The project is currently undergoing review by the city. If approved, construction is expected to take between 18 and 20 months. The church hopes this development will serve as a model for other organizations looking to contribute to the housing crisis in meaningful ways.