Church Proposal for Workforce Housing Receives Mixed Reviews

As her vision for integrating workforce housing into the fabric of Royersford Baptist Church came under scrutiny from the Upper Providence Township Planning Commission, Pastor Sarah Strosahl-Kagi did what comes naturally. 

She preached. 

“I say ‘not in my backyard’ to hunger… ‘Not in my backyard’ to increase homelessness. And I say ‘not in my backyard’ to one more person forced to choose between groceries and paying rent,” Strosahl-Kagi said. 

The Wednesday night meeting room was packed with speakers who were mostly evenly split between supporters and detractors of a concept plan for 42 to 48 homes – consisting of one to three bedroom apartments – on 4.5 acres zoned R2 at 452 S. Lewis Road. No formal action or vote from the planning commission took place; however, zoning relief will be required for project approval. 

Sue McPhedran, director of development for the Philadelphia region of Mission First Housing Group, gave an overview of the targeted residents for their Cypress Place development. One-bedroom units will go for $1,000 per month, with residents earning between $30,000 and $46,900 per year. Three-bedroom units will rent for $1,371, to those with household incomes between $41,000 and $72,360. Meanwhile, two-bedroom homes – which will make up the majority at Cypress Place – will rent for $1,200 to people with household incomes between $38,000 and approximately $60,000. 

There is a tremendous need for “housing for working families” in the region, Strosahl-Kagi said. About half of Montco renters spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent, according to a county report. 

Planning Commission Chair Thomas Wright raised several questions (most of which had little to do with zoning or land development, the typical planning scopes of responsibility, including: 

• Whether capping incomes for residents is “discriminatory.” 

• Whether Royersford Baptist Church and Cyprus Place may, at some point in the future, experience turmoil and divorce each other, thus throwing the shared arrangement into disarray (the courtyard and certain church facilities would be shared with tenants). 

• Wright challenged one supporter who pointed out that many of Upper Providence’s service workers likely struggle to find an affordable place to live, asking: “So, we’ve provided them with a job. Why is it our responsibility to provide them with housing opportunities?” 

From the audience, those in opposition generally opposed the “crammed” nature of the proposal on 4.5 acres near an already busy stretch of road that includes two Spring-Ford schools. PC member Gerard Fiore also expressed parking concerns. Jennifer Kappen, a resident of Upper Providence and the senior VP of affordable housing for Human Good, noted that in order to make developments work financially, affordable construction needs to be dense. This location on Lewis Road makes sense, given its close proximity to transit as well as its walkability. 

Ken George, who volunteers with Orion in Phoenixville, said he would regularly interact with people experiencing homelessness in Royersford and Spring City. 

“(Affordable housing) is a need that is so great. I support this kind of housing,” George said. 

Matt Kirsch, also of Upper Providence, pointed out the variety of people who lose housing, including veterans, single parents, people escaping violence, and more. He applauded RBC and Mission First for offering a “creative solution to find ways to support them.” 

Meanwhile, John Murtin, who lives nearby the proposal, said he and his family worked hard to move to Upper Providence Township. He urged the church and developer to look elsewhere. 

Royersford Baptist Church has been operating since the 1960s at its current location on South Lewis Road, decades before the single-family homes were built behind the property on Schoolside Court.