A national faith-based institution with over 2,300 parishes identified over 600 that were at financial risk due to reduced contributions from its members. The resulting revisioning of the business model meant that some of these properties could through a life lease be developed as mixed use low density housing, retail, and community centres. Through their property consulting division, we were asked to lead one parish through a revisioning process.
With multiple complex internal and external stakeholders, our focus for this client was effective community engagement and consultation, and facilitating the property RFP and development process to select and hire a development consultant and contractor, which is typically a 2-5 year period.
Initially, we went through our client’s internal training and consultant on-boarding process. With the alignment of their values and expectations with that of the project, we then developed a work plan and communications plan. Our experience as facilitators, working with non-profits and community consultation, allowed us to design, implement, and manage a framework of weekly discussion circles, stakeholder engagement, and consented work plan. The resulting revisioning of the business model meant that some of these properties could be mixed-use developments of low density housing with retail and community amenities.