A Parish Property turned into a Neighborhood

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Tepeyac

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Surfing online, I found this proposal to develop the property of a suburban parish into a neighborhood with shops, homes, and a public square surrounding a new parish church, rectory, and school.

From Parking Places to People Spaces

I think it’s pretty cool. I like the idea of turning all that unused space into a village. Does anyone else think this is a good idea? Would anybody else like to see parishes developed this way?
 
It’s nice architecture, but the church looks lost behind all the buildings and if you estimate 1 -2 cars per household, where are they going to park?
 
Catholic1954 said:
It’s nice architecture, but the church looks lost behind all the buildings and if you estimate 1 -2 cars per household, where are they going to park?
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It says at the bottom of the article that plenty of on-street parking is incorporated into the plan, enough to accomodate shoppers, visitors, and parishoners. Besides it looks as if it is small enough for many people to walk in good weather.
 
It’s a really nice concept. I love the school, almost built on monastic principles and with the courtyard, providing a feeling of closeness and safety, and I bet the more controlled environment would facilitate things like keeping drugs and undesirables out.

As for the automobiles; by having the schools, shops and church close by and hopefully, by being close to public transit, and with bike-friendly surroundings, it may be possible for a typical family to reduce their car need to a single good-quality compact sedan or hatchback.

I’m a big car fan (Planes Trains and Automobiles actually), and there are some really excellent and practical small cars on the market or soon to hit the market (Honda Fit, Ford Fiesta, Mazda 2 to name a few). We need to rethink our urban and suburban spaces to wean ourselves off of the 2 SUV family isolated from everything in the 'burbs. Compact and self-contained neighborhoods on a much more human scale, like this on, would go a long way for that. As someone who has spent some time in Europe, this village almost reminds me of the compact neatness of European communities. I can easily foresee living in such a place and getting by on one car.
 
The design is based on the principles of the New Urbanism movement which I find attractive. Because of the smaller scale, I think it might be an easier approach to achieving a Catholic commmunity than a much larger development like Ave Maria, Florida. I’m not criticising Ave Maria or the ideas behind its founding, just saying it’s goals might be easier to achieve this way. Imagine a network of parishes like this across a diocese or region.

Maybe in the future growing dioceses could plan for future parishes this way, especially in expanding suburban areas. People sometimes ask on the boards if there are Catholic communities for lay people . Maybe this is one way to achieve them, especially if combined with a Catholic version of Co-housing Or how about using similar methods to revitilize dying parishes and their surrounding neighborhoods?
 
I think it’s a great idea.

Be nice if there were some areas for seniors too.
 
Kansas City has a gorgeous church that is no longer used but they tacked on a clinic that specializes in drug rehab. It’s jarring. Made me think we ought to fast-track baptismal training (RCIA) and get these people into Catholic schools so we don’t have to do drug rehab. Little simplistic but waddya think? How can we rehab the souls and minds of people and stop preaching to the choir?
 
nordskoven said:
Kansas City has a gorgeous church that is no longer used but they tacked on a clinic that specializes in drug rehab. It’s jarring. Made me think we ought to fast-track baptismal training (RCIA) and get these people into Catholic schools so we don’t have to do drug rehab. Little simplistic but waddya think? How can we rehab the souls and minds of people and stop preaching to the choir?
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There are some serious physiological impacts to drug abuse; I don’t think Catholic school can help you dodge drug rehab if you need it.
 
nordskoven said:
Kansas City has a gorgeous church that is no longer used but they tacked on a clinic that specializes in drug rehab. It’s jarring. Made me think we ought to fast-track baptismal training (RCIA) and get these people into Catholic schools so we don’t have to do drug rehab. Little simplistic but waddya think? How can we rehab the souls and minds of people and stop preaching to the choir?
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So you are implying that people who attended Catholic Schools never have the need for rehab??

You could not be more mistaken.

Some people who attend(ed) Catholic schools become alcoholics, addicted to drugs, etc. Drugs and alcohol are insidious, not checking someone’s religious affliliation before messing with someone.
 
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