The Bottom-Up Revolution

Building Community On Church Land Again


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Eli Smith, director of the Faith-Based Housing Initiative, joins the show to talk about churches turning underused land and aging buildings into housing and everyday community spaces. He explains how his team helps congregations understand their property, imagine specific projects, and gain the language and tools they need to work with developers, lenders, and local officials. Eli and Tiffany dig into the tension between commuter churches and a more rooted parish model, and why thoughtful design often leads congregations beyond a standard apartment block toward pocket neighborhoods and shared spaces.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES
  • Eli Smith (LinkedIn)
  • Faith-Based Housing Initiative (Site)
  • What I've learned from faith-based housing (Substack)
  • Local Recommendations:
    • The Franklin Inn
    • Scoop
    • Tiffany Owens Reed (Instagram)
    • Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here!
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      The Bottom-Up RevolutionBy Strong Towns

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