Our Neighborhood: Exclusion or Embrace?

By / May 10, 2016
This is a dated rendering of what the Elizabeth Business District might look like. That's Novant Presbyterian the top. Caldwell is located off the upper left corner of this illustration. Read about it and take the survey below.
This is a dated rendering of what the Elizabeth Business District might look like. That’s Novant Presbyterian at the top. Caldwell is located off the upper left corner of this illustration. Read about it and take the survey below.

Dear Caldwell,

How do we bear witness to God’s kingdom on earth in our neighborhood as it continues to grow and change? How do we inject the Gospel into emerging plans that will transform our immediate surroundings?

I would love to hear what you think.

As you know, the area immediately around the church is undergoing change. The trolley has brought new life to the Elizabeth Ave. walking district one block away. That energy is spreading. Novant Hospital continues to expand.  Restaurants and shops are opening. I’ve even heard something about a new coffee shop at the corner of 5th Street and Park Dr.!

But the biggest changes have yet to come. As many of you know, Novant and Grubb Property, a real estate development firm, are in partnership to, one day, overhaul the eight-block area in front of the church and stretching down to CPCC.  Think about it – 8 blocks of new development on what is now mostly empty parking lots.

The final design and implementation of their mixed-use development will be an important influence on the future of your church.

But I also think we can influence the development. That’s where I would love to hear your thoughts.

What is the church’s role in speaking the Gospel into their development plans? What do we think the property owner and developers ought to consider to build authentic community? What specifically would you love to see in the “village” that will one day occupy our immediate surroundings? How might we like to see a glimpse of the kingdom in our front yard, in terms of the types of buildings that go up and the kind of people they are designed to attract and serve?

A group of members discussed this over dinner last Wednesday but I would still love to hear your thoughts. A written survey is below. Please cut and paste into a word document, fill it out and email back to me at pastor@caldwellpresby.org.  Your response will inform the church’s voice – and help me with a paper for my doctorate work on how the church engages in a changing urban environment. THANKS.

In Christ,

John

Take the Survey

 

  1. How important is it for Caldwell to voice its perspective and preferences for the emerging Elizabeth mixed-use district?

Not important           Somewhat important           Very important          MUST be done

  1. If it is important, for what reasons?

a. To protect the church’s self interest in terms of campus land value?

b. To optimize the general appeal of the development so it attracts potential new members of the church?

c.  To promote inclusion of all types of people, regardless of whether they become part of the Caldwell community?

d.  All of the above

e.  None of the above

f.  Other reasons: ___________________________________________________

  1. Does anything from the Bible come to mind that speaks to how we connect the church’s mission to influencing private neighborhood development?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

  1. What elements do you think are most important to include in the development design? (assign a number, with 1 as “least important” and 5 as “most important”)

___    Shops, restaurants and nightclubs/bars

___    Offices

___    Apartments at market-rate rental prices

___    Affordable apartments for workforce housing

___    For-sale housing such as market-rate condominiums, townhouses

___    Theaters

___    Coffee shops/Bookstores

___    Markets/supermarkets

___    Public spaces (such as a park, fountains, a “commons” or other greenspace)

___    Other, such as:_________________________________________

  1. In what ways can the development be most embracing or inclusive?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  1. In what ways can the development be most exclusive?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  1. Any final comments?

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