Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - "This is a phenomenon across America and across religions and denominations. A tsunami of emptying houses of worship," said Rick Reinhard, principal of Niagara Consulting Group on WBEN, focusing on house-of-worship reuse and redevelopment.
Having 80 churches come on at once, he says, is a big challenge.
Reinhard says houses of worship fulfill three roles in a community. They are places of worship, places that receive social services, and they are icons for the community. Towns and villages are built up around churches.
"After a period of mourning, a period of grief, I think it's really important
for people to roll up their sleeves. The Diocese, municipalities, business
interests, and real estate interests, to figure out what each individual church
should become. And the answer is not the same.," he added.
The big trend nationally is to turn former churches into affordable housing.
"The state of California just passed a law, SB 4, that gives community and faith institutions financial incentives and regulatory incentives to turn churches into affordable housing. But we're seeing everything across America. In St. Louis, they've hollowed out a church and turned it into a skate park." Reinhard explained "there is no one answer."
Reinhard has a Buffalo connection. He has been following this region since he left Western New York 24 years ago. Reinhard is a former Director of Buffalo Place. He served as chief of staff to former Mayor Anthony Masiello, and conceived Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
"There is a lot the Buffalo Diocese could have done, rather than close 80 at once. They could have been more transparent about the closings. They could have closed one or two at a time over the last two or three decades. They also could have worked with city and county planners, real estate and development professionals. But we all know that's not the way the Vatican works."
He explained that now is the time for the community to get involved on a church by church basis and determine the best results for these institutions.
"I'm a lot more worried about churches that are in small suburban and rural villages, because often in those places, the community depends upon the church."
