COMMON GROUND A framework for integrating Catholic parishes into the social fabric of Plateau Est Commons Planning + Design
December 5, 2019
MANDATE Our project asks how three parishes in the Plateau Est can serve their communities in ways that resonate with the contemporary needs of the neighbourhood and the mission of the Catholic Church. Specifically, our client requested several, tangible recommendations that are not focused on selling.
IMMACULÉE-CONCEPTION SAINT-STANISLAS-DE-KOSTKA SAINT-PIERRE-CLAVER
Locational Context
PLATEAU EST
ImmaculĂŠe-Conception
Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka
Saint-Pierre-Claver
THE PLATEAU ● ● ●
104,000 inhabitants (2.6% increase over 15 years) 37 - average age 1.8 - average household size
HOUSING UNAFFORDABILITY ● ●
44% of households spend 30% or more of income on housing Over the past 15 years: ○ Property values increased 210% ○ Rent increased 68%
THE PARISHES CHANGING RELIGIOUS LANDSCAPE ●
20-25% decrease in Catholic residents over the past 10 years
CHANGING LINGUISTIC LANDSCAPE ●
6% increase in Anglophone population between 2001 and 2016
IMMIGRATION ●
French and African immigrants are the dominant groups
Discovery Process
FRAMING QUESTIONS
1. What are the social needs of the parish areas? 2. What role do the churches currently play in their communities? 3. What could the parishes do to more directly serve current needs?
FRAMING QUESTIONS 1. What are the social needs of the parish areas? → Which institutions exist to identify and meet these needs? 2. What role do the churches currently play in their communities? → How is the space currently used, and by whom? 3. What could the parishes do to more directly serve current needs? → What are the parishes’ underutilized resources?
CONTACTS MADE Visioning Board & Factual Survey
Survey
70+
17
8
10
3
Parishioners & Mass Attendees
Plateau-Est Residents
Tenants
Key Informants
Priests
Interviews
11
Which institutions exist to identify and meet local need?
Which institutions exist to identify and meet local need? Numerous, specialized social service organizations respond to community need.
LOCAL INSTITUTIONS ARRONDISSEMENT DU PLATEAU-MONT-ROYAL CDC-ASGP La Corporation de développement communautaire ACTION SOLIDARITÉ GRAND PLATEAU 46 member organizations
CARREFOUR MARGUERITE-BOURGEOYS LA MAISON D’AURORE LA MAISON DES AMIS
22
How is parish space used, and by whom?
How is parish space used, and by whom?
2
Parish space is heavily used by community-focused nonprofits serving local need.
WEEKLY VISITORS BY TYPE
Religious Community Tenant Employees
Service Users
REVENUE SOURCES BY PARISH
TENANT OVERVIEW Saint-Pierre-Claver
Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka
ImmaculĂŠe-Conception
# TENANTS
ACTIVITIES
7
Institutional housing (mental health) Cultural organization office & community space Community meals & meetings
+ occasional users
12
Direct social service provision Community garden Religious nonprofit office space Secular nonprofit office space Social service professional training sessions Film shoots
5 + sublessees
Direct social service provision Social enterprise Secular nonprofit office space Community group meetings Cultural activities Music practice & concerts (organ)
33
What are the parishes’ underutilized resources?
What are the parishes’ underutilized resources?
3
Prime real estate and existing relationships with tenants.
ImmaculĂŠe-Conception
Saint-Stanislas-de-Kostka
Saint-Pierre-Claver
WHO IS WILLING TO DO WHAT? Parishioners
Plateau-Est Residents
Tenants
Desire to open the space to others (e.g. different faiths, recent immigrants)
Indifference to being involved in parish life
Frustration with delayed repairs and lack of property management
Anxiety regarding decreased attendance and church closure
Closure of a place of worship seen as loss to the community
Importance of the churches’ provision of affordable office space
1. What are the social needs of the parish areas?
Affordable real estate is a major need in the neighbourhood, along with basic humanitarian needs.
2. What role do the churches currently play in their communities?
These churches are already actively serving their communities by providing affordable rental space to social services and non-profit organizations that meet humanitarian needs directly.
3. What could the parishes Address service gaps and institutional vulnerabilities do to more directly serve that threaten the parishes’ role as provider of space. current needs?
COMMON GROUND = Shared Spaces, Overlapping Missions ●
Generating revenue from renting space may seem like a departure from the churches’ religious mission
●
However, the church is providing affordable space to social-justice oriented organizations who are directly involved in community issues
●
Many of these organizations began as Catholic organizations, having departed from an official affiliation in the mid 20th century
●
This is a moment in the long history of the Church and social service provision in Quebec
Recommendations
KEY RECOMMENDATION
Invest in parishes’ capacity to rent space to socially-oriented organizations by addressing service gaps and institutional vulnerabilities. A. Build personnel capacity B. Improve property management service delivery C. Foster collaboration among tenants and parishioners
A. BUILD PERSONNEL CAPACITY RATIONALE Property management duties are currently performed by pastoral staff, administration staff, and volunteers Many of these people are aging/near retirement Vital operational knowledge is at risk of being lost Increasing personnel capacity contributes to the long-term sustainability of rental functions
A. BUILD PERSONNEL CAPACITY PROPOSED STRATEGIES
COST
TIMELINE
A.
Seek additional volunteers to form a property management team
$
Quick win
B.
Draw on diocese-wide human and professional resources
$
Quick win
C.
Partner with tenants to expand property management capacities
$
Intermediate
D.
Create a property management internship program
$$
Long-term solution
E.
Create a part-time or full-time paid property management position
$$$
Long-term solution
B. IMPROVE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICE DELIVERY RATIONALE Tenants expressed concerns about building security issues, lack of coordinated maintenance, and lack of communication vis à vis space utilization
If the Church considers this a legitimate form of mission fulfillment, it is worth investing in
B. IMPROVE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICE DELIVERY PROPOSED ACTION ITEMS
COST
TIMELINE
Upgrade exterior and interior access points with an intercom system and card reader to address tenant security concerns about controlled access to private spaces
$$
Intermediate
2.
Modernize windows and heating system to save on energy costs and prevent discomfort
$$$
Intermediate
3.
Prioritize timely repairs through effective communication and dedicated personnel
$
Long-term solution
4.
Commission comprehensive assessments of each parish property to determine necessary maintenance and forecast capital expenses
$ - $$$
Intermediate
1.
C. FOSTER COLLABORATION AMONG TENANTS AND PARISHIONERS RATIONALE Tenants expressed appreciation for their co-location with other nonprofits High degree of parishioner involvement with nonprofit organizations in thriving parishes Parishioners expressed interest in learning about current tenants
C. FOSTER COLLABORATION AMONG TENANTS AND PARISHIONERS PROPOSED ACTION ITEMS
COST
TIMELINE
1.
Install a directory and interior signage to inform tenants of the presence of other organizations
$
Quick win
2.
Create, post, and distribute to tenants by email a schedule of events taking place on the premises to allow regular tenants to plan around occasional uses
$
Quick win
Inform parishioners of services provided by tenant organizations and opportunities to volunteer through existing newsletters and new forms of communication
$
Quick win
Amplify the benefits that tenants already derive from co-locating with other nonprofits by providing opportunities for networking and improvement of common spaces
$
Intermediate
3.
4.
BROADER CONTEXT: MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS
BROADER CONTEXT: STAKEHOLDERS RELATIONSHIP TO PARISHIONERS
RELATIONSHIP TO TENANTS
RELATIONSHIP TO COMMUNITY
A. Reconfigure seating in sanctuary space
G. Improve communication, signage, and maintenance of shared spaces
K. Increase churches’ opening hours
B. Improve acoustics through discreet retrofits
H. Implement physical upgrades to parish facilities
L. Welcome semi-structured spiritual discussion groups
C. Create/update websites and social media for each parish
D. Record and post masses online
E. Set up a platform for online recurring donations F. Build on working relationships between the three parishes
I. Improve outdoor signage
J. Commission physical assessments of each parish property
M. Establish connections with other faith communities
BROADER CONTEXT: STAKEHOLDERS RELATIONSHIP TO PARISHIONERS
RELATIONSHIP TO TENANTS
RELATIONSHIP TO COMMUNITY
A. Reconfigure seating in sanctuary space
G. Improve communication, signage, and maintenance of shared spaces
K. Increase churches’ opening hours
B. Improve acoustics through discreet retrofits
H. Implement physical upgrades to parish facilities
L. Welcome semi-structured spiritual discussion groups
C. Create/update websites and social media for each parish
D. Record and post masses online
E. Set up a platform for online recurring donations F. Build on working relationships between the three parishes
I. Improve outdoor signage
J. Commission physical assessments of each parish property
M. Establish connections with other faith communities
BROADER CONTEXT: STAKEHOLDERS RELATIONSHIP TO PARISHIONERS
RELATIONSHIP TO TENANTS
RELATIONSHIP TO COMMUNITY
A. Reconfigure seating in sanctuary space
G. Improve communication, signage, and maintenance of shared spaces
K. Increase churches’ opening hours
B. Improve acoustics through discreet retrofits
H. Implement physical upgrades to parish facilities
L. Welcome semi-structured spiritual discussion groups
C. Create/update websites and social media for each parish
D. Record and post masses online
E. Set up a platform for online recurring donations F. Build on working relationships between the three parishes
I. Improve outdoor signage
J. Commission physical assessments of each parish property
M. Establish connections with other faith communities
DIGITAL STRATEGY RATIONALE Interviews with Catholic outreach experts mentioned the importance to keep parishioners and community informed Other vibrant parishes in Montreal have clear web presence Parishioners and staff expressed interest in developing a web presence for each parish Digital technologies can expand revenue streams
DIGITAL STRATEGY PROPOSED ACTION ITEMS
COST
TIMELINE
1.
Build and update simple websites and Facebook pages for each parish
$$
Intermediate
2.
Video-record and share Sunday masses
$$
Intermediate
3.
Set up and advertise secure online donations
$
Quick win
BROADER CONTEXT: STAKEHOLDERS RELATIONSHIP TO PARISHIONERS
RELATIONSHIP TO TENANTS
RELATIONSHIP TO COMMUNITY
A. Reconfigure seating in sanctuary space
G. Improve communication, signage, and maintenance of shared spaces
K. Increase churches’ opening hours
B. Improve acoustics through discreet retrofits
H. Implement physical upgrades to parish facilities
L. Welcome semi-structured spiritual discussion groups
C. Create/update websites and social media for each parish
D. Record and post masses online
E. Set up a platform for online recurring donations F. Build on working relationships between the three parishes
I. Improve outdoor signage
J. Commission physical assessments of each parish property
M. Establish connections with other faith communities
COMMUNITY STRATEGY RATIONALE Some tenants expressed that the populations they serve would benefit from access to the churches for spiritual reflection Parishioners expressed that many community members are unfamiliar with the churches Now-vibrant parishes have found success through innovative outreach strategies Traditional Catholic outreach methods have not been successful in recent years
COMMUNITY STRATEGY PROPOSED ACTION ITEMS
COST
TIMELINE
1.
Expand churches’ opening hours to welcome visitors and passersby
$$
Intermediate
2.
Advertise parish websites on exterior signage to direct passersby to more information
$
Quick win
3.
Welcome semi-structured spiritual discussion groups and/or create a modern program or workshop to introduce new people to the faith
$-$$
Intermediate
The Bigger Picture
Place of Worship
Lively appearance attracts new Feature of parishioners Landscape
Online presence
Community access
Stable revenues sustain churches as places of worship
Long-term Lessor
Social services embody connections to the community
THANK YOU.
Process Reflection
WHAT WORKED WELL
WHAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
External documents BACKGROUND
Census analysis
Gaps in diocesan records
Site visits
OUTREACH
Visioning board
Method for engaging local residents
Parish tours
Suggestion Box received low engagement
Tenant interviews
Missing Information ● ●
Building information ○ Forecasting large repair costs Vitality report ○ Immaculate conception
ACTION ITEMS Relationship to Parishioners
Relationship to Tenants
Relationship to Community
A. Reconfigure seating in sanctuary space to foster community and togetherness
G. Improve relationships with and among tenants via improvements to communication, signage, networking events, and maintenance of shared spaces
K. Increase churches’ opening hours to welcome newcomers and passers-by
B. Improve acoustics through discreet retrofits
H. Implement physical upgrades, including secure card-access doors, efficient heating systems to improve tenant satisfaction
L. Found open spiritual/existential discussions to introduce newcomers to the faith and the church environment in a less intimidating way
C. Build and maintain simple websites and social media for each parish to advertise events, activities, opening hours, etc.
I. Improve outdoor signage to clearly communicate current parish projects, holidays, opening hours, and current tenants
M. Establish connections with other religious communities in the parishes to build capacity to accomplish common social goals
D. Record and make masses available online to reach the broader community and introduce newcomers to the faith
J. Commission comprehensive assessments of each parish property to determine necessary maintenance and upcoming capital expenses
E. Set up a platform for online recurring donations to supplement in-mass collections F. Establish working relationships and regular meetings/communication between staff from the three parishes