Church of God In Christ Announces Plan to Begin Construction on Mason Village Affordable Housing Project In South Memphis

Charles Blake, presiding bishop of Church of God in Christ (left), is greeted by Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland at Tuesday’s announcement of the Mason Village development. (Photo by Ryan Poe)

The Church of God in Christ announced Tuesday that it plans to begin construction next March on the Mason Village multifamily development in South Memphis.

The city of Memphis is loaning $4 million for the $10 million project, which will bring 77 “affordable town homes” to the 6.3 acres that was the vacant site of Fowler Homes, a public-housing project at Fourth Avenue and Crump Boulevard torn down in 2004.

COGIC owns the site next to the denomination’s world headquarters in the historic Mason Temple. Construction should finish in March 2018.

The project — in the works about seven years — is a joint venture comprising COGIC and John Stanley Inc.with support from the city.

In a Tuesday press conference at COGIC’s headquarters, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said the project would ease the city’s need for more affordable housing, especially as the city struggles with the massive relocation of 700 residents from the soon-to-be-demolished Foote Homes housing project, also South Memphis.

“Success begets success,” he told a crowd of about 100 people. “This development will help revitalize this (community).”

The announcement came as COGIC celebrated the church’s founders, including Charles Mason, the namesake of the development. Charles E. Blake Sr., presiding bishop of COGIC, said the project demonstrates the denomination’s continued commitment to investing in Memphis.

“For us, Memphis is sacred ground,” Blake said.

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SOURCE: The Commercial Appeal
Ryan Poe