A dual nature: the archdiocesan community development corporation

Abstract

New models for urban revitalization continue to emerge as the community development movement evolves. This article discusses a study that explored the formation and activities of a unique community development corporation (CDC) that is situated within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, a part of the Roman Catholic Church in America. It begins with a look at how churches have historically served both anchoring and mediating functions in cities. The discussion then turns to the structure and nature of the archdiocesan CDC, particularly examining the challenge of applying a traditionally place-based model in an institutional context spanning a five county region. Recommendations emphasize deeper citizen participation with the CDC and the codification and adoption of a formal process to secure and then adaptively reuse vacant church properties to advance urban revitalization.

Keywords:

• community development corporation
• adaptive reuse
• Catholic
• urban revitalization

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the anonymous reviewers from the Journal of the Community Development Society as well as the past and present staff of the Office for Community Development for their willingness to participate in the research process.

Notes

Aspects of the case study featured in this article have been presented in papers at the Urban Affairs Association Annual Meetings in 2008 and 2009.