A historic East Nashville church property is getting a second life as 22 affordable homes for families, with a community hub taking shape alongside the housing. The project aims to turn a fire-damaged former sanctuary into a place for neighbors to live, gather, eat and connect with services.
Trinity Community Commons is redeveloping the former Trinity United Methodist Church property on Trinity Lane, according to NewsChannel 5. The planned apartments will include two-, three- and four-bedroom homes intended for families, with Safe Haven Family Shelter, Nelson Community Partners and The Nashville Food Project involved in the effort.
The nonprofit’s project timeline calls for construction to begin this fall, with completion expected in fall 2027, while permitting remains underway. The housing is planned as permanent supportive housing, a model intended to pair stable homes with connections to community resources.
A Burned Sanctuary Becomes A Neighborhood Hub
The property’s road to redevelopment has been anything but tidy. A fire tore through the old sanctuary in 2021, and after the congregation voted to close the church the following year, the property was deeded to Trinity Community Commons, WTVF reported.
The former sanctuary will be repurposed as a community facility for meals, markets, performances and neighborhood events, according to Trinity Community Commons. The organization also plans to expand its community garden and create a teaching and commissary kitchen with The Nashville Food Project.
That broader setup matters in a city where affordable housing is not exactly sitting around waiting for a tenant. Nashville’s Metro Nashville Housing Division says its Unified Housing Strategy is designed to expand access to safe, stable and affordable housing through nonprofit, public and private partnerships.
Trinity Lane Is Becoming An Affordable Housing Corridor
The 22-home project is arriving as other affordable developments move forward along Trinity Lane. A previous Hoodline report detailed separate plans for nearly 500 additional income-restricted apartments in the broader West Trinity corridor, including family and senior housing.
For Trinity Community Commons, the goal is more focused than simply adding units: preserve the spirit of a longtime gathering place while creating a stable home base for families facing displacement or homelessness. If the schedule holds, the first families could move into the new homes by the end of 2027, with the old church sanctuary serving a new neighborhood role instead of remaining a reminder of what was lost.
