Unity Lutheran Church's pastor says costly repairs and declining revenue are driving the proposal, while a longtime member and neighbor wants the community to help shape the church's future.
MILWAUKEE — Unity Lutheran Church in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood is considering a redevelopment plan that would replace its existing building with a four-story building containing 55 apartment units and a smaller worship and ministry space.
Pastor Kevan Penvose says declining membership, falling revenue, and urgent structural repairs have made redevelopment necessary.
"We are only using half the building. The original church basement only gets used for storage, and in the education wing, the second floor is really not usable,” said Penvose...Leo's notes: Unity Lutheran Church’s proposal to replace its aging Bay View facility with 55 workforce apartments and a smaller ministry space illustrates how declining congregations can turn underused institutional land into both housing and a sustainable future for their organizations. The concept specifically targets the increasingly squeezed middle of the market—workers such as teachers, nurses, police officers and firefighters—while a ground lease would provide the congregation with ongoing revenue. Established neighborhoods with churches and other institutional properties could become an increasingly important piece of Wisconsin’s infill and workforce housing strategy.
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- - Volume: 26 - WEEK: 38 Date: 9/14/2026 2:00:36 PM -