by Shawn Nowlin
In a move that many anticipated for a long time, Restoration Housing, an organization committed to fostering a strong, dignified community one house at a time, recently celebrated the completion of Trinity Commons.
Originally constructed in 1903, the former Trinity United Methodist Church served the Old Southwest neighborhood for more than a century.
During a community gathering on April 8, the historic church building in downtown Roanoke was converted into 15 affordable rental apartments for seniors age 55 and older.
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, self-guided tours were given and a documentary screening was shown.
“We are now finished with construction after a little over a year. Overall, this project has been three years in the making,” Restoration Housing Executive Director Isabel Thornton said in a video that was uploaded to social media.
She added, “Without the City of Roanoke, this project certainly would not have happened. They allowed us to make an offer for the building. They reimbursed us for those costs. Without that, we wouldn’t have been able to purchase the building. Then, once we started raising money, we got two grants. One is community block grant money, and another was called ‘Home Safe.’”
“I consider this a great project because it’s an adaptive reuse project. We are taking an existing building and repurposing it, especially for affordable housing,” Desi Wynter, Roanoke Housing Program & Policy Officer, said. “Seniors are among our most vulnerable populations.”
A full kitchen, four-piece bathroom and living space come with each one-bedroom unit.
“I attended the ribbon cutting for Trinity Commons, the latest project from Isabel and Restoration Housing and wow, this is what community impact looks like in real time,” Roanoke resident Ryan Bell said. “I am grateful to witness the work, the vision, and the lives that will be changed because of it. Let’s keep building.”
According to its website, “At Restoration Housing, we believe that all people deserve to live in safe, strong communities with access to dignified housing. Since 2014, we’ve been focused on preserving neglected historic structures, rehabilitating them to their former splendor, and converting them into safe, affordable rental properties for low-income individuals and families.”
