THE POWER OF FRESH EYES

Milford Hills joined the Placemaking Cohort with a "big, audacious" idea: they wanted to build housing. But they were stuck on how to start.

Step 1: Listening (Curiosity Phase)

Instead of guessing, the church engaged the community. They spoke with the school superintendent and local leaders.

The Discovery: Teachers in Rowan County could not afford to live in the city they taught in. The community didn't just need housing; they needed workforce housing.

Step 2: The "Low-Hanging Fruit" (Site Visit)

NCV cofounder Luke Lingle conducted a site walk-through. They identified that while the housing project was the dream, the church was missing the now.

The Insight: The empty classrooms were "low-hanging fruit" that could generate revenue immediately while the longer-term housing project was developed.

A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY

Milford Hills didn't just choose the project; they built a roadmap to financial health.

Immediate Activation (Completed)

• Action: Using endowment funds, the church renovated the Education Wing.

• Result: They consolidated the youth ministry into a better, modernized space and leased the 5 remaining classrooms to Family First, a local non-profit seeking a permanent home.

• Financial Impact: The rental income is projected to pay back the renovation costs in just 3–5 years.

Mid-Term Activation (In Progress)

• Action: Upgrading the kitchen to commercial standards.

• Opportunity: Market research revealed a lack of commissary kitchens for food trucks and caterers in Salisbury.

• Goal: Create a revenue-generating shared kitchen model.

Long-Term Legacy (Validation Phase)

• Action: The "Teacher Village."

• Vision: Developing the 3 acres of empty land into affordable housing specifically for local educators.

• Current Status: NCV is currently working with Milford Hills on financial modeling, validation, and deal structure to turn this from an idea into a construction project.

HEAR FROM THE CHURCH LEADERS

“We truly believe that a teacher village is something that not only our church can benefit from, but our community could be excited about... But it's beyond us. We could not tackle that type of work on our own. And so we need partners like New Chapter Ventures to come along and to help us.”

THE IMPACT

• 5 New Office Spaces Leased to a Non-Profit

• 100% Occupancy of previously dormant classrooms

• 3-5 Year ROI on renovation costs via rental income

• 3 Acres designated for future Teacher Workforce Housing