Former Wesley AME Church near Historic Third Ward to be redeveloped into Gospel Square

On March 27, the city of Houston passed an ordinance authorizing the sale and purchase of 62,500 square feet of land situated at 2209 Emancipation Ave., Houston, near the Historic Third Ward. The land is set to be sold to The National Housing Partnership Foundation for redevelopment purposes.

The NHP Foundation is a nonprofit real estate organization committed to preserving and establishing affordable housing. As the developer, the foundation will revamp and repurpose the property, located within the Third Ward Complete Community, into a vibrant mixed-use development named Gospel Square.

Gospel Square is envisioned as a live-work community featuring amenities such as a café, recording studio, courtyard, and new affordable housing units. The existing Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Church on the premises will also undergo renovation to include a community center, event performance space, and a gospel museum. Renovations will prioritize infrastructure and energy-efficient upgrades while preserving the historic exterior structure of the church.

The proposed construction will introduce 50 residential units, all of which will be affordable to residents earning 60% of the area median income (AMI). For 2021, the 60% AMI limit ranges from $33,300 for a one-person household to $62,760 for an eight-person household. Additionally, the facility will feature 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space and parking, with the upper floors designated for office conference space, coworking areas, and residential units.

The project’s total budget is $26.8 million, comprising the city’s land acquisition cost of $3.8 million and $23 million to be funded by the NHP Foundation. The city of Houston allocated $3.8 million in Homeless and Housing Consolidated funds for the land purchase, along with an additional $200,000 for due diligence and transaction fees.

Renovation of the Wesley AME Church is anticipated to conclude by July, as per the City of Houston Housing & Community Development Department’s presentation. Community members and residents of Third Ward are encouraged to provide feedback on the proposed renovation and redevelopment of the church through the city of Houston’s website.