Rochester church embraces faith-based real estate development

A new entity has entered the world of real estate development in Rochester: First Genesis Baptist Church.

Oh, the traditional role of the Hudson Avenue landmark ministry hasn’t changed. The church will still teach, preach and disciple.

But in creating First Genesis Development Corp. (FGDC), an economic development arm of the religious organization, church leaders intend to advance stability, growth and generational wealth in what for decades has been an ignored area of the city.

FGDC has partnered with Rochester Management Inc. as project developers to build 22 single-family houses in the historically redlined neighborhood off Hudson Avenue and Upper Falls Boulevard. Atlas Construction will build the homes, which were designed by Passero Associates.

Faith-based organizations taking on real estate development is fairly new concept to Rochester, but it is growing in popularity and has been embraced by First Genesis Pastor Fredrick Johnson Sr.

“He takes his ministry outside the walls of the church,” Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said at Monday’s ceremonial groundbreaking.

This is the second time Rochester Management has partnered with a church to create housing. In 2022, the organization worked in collaboration with Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church to build Zion Hill Apartments on Dr. Samuel McCree Way.

“The church really understands the needs of their neighborhoods,” said Scott Procious, president and CEO of Rochester Management Inc., a nonprofit real estate firm that has operated in the city since 1949.

In some ways, Rochester is just catching up with its neighbors. In Buffalo, faith-based housing development is commonplace, with Mount Aaron Missionary Baptist Church, Mount Olive Baptist Church, Thankful Missionary Baptist Church and St. Johns Baptist Church all sponsoring projects in recent years.

“In over 50 percent of housing that has been created on the east side of Buffalo, a faith-based not-for-profit was a substantial partner,” said Leonard Skrill, assistant commissioner of New York State Homes and Community Renewal. “It’s important that project sponsors look like the people that live in the community.”

Said Johnson: “The church brings consistency and perseverance. It took over six years to get to this point; that’s perseverance. It allows people to trust that the leadership will do what the leadership says it will do.”

First Genesis took on the challenge of real estate developer after former Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren asked church leaders in 2017 to consider the added role.

Not long after, First Genesis Development Corp. was created. FGDC is an arm of the church but is a separate legal, not-for-profit entity with the mission of enhancing economic development in the neighborhood. Jeremiah 29, verse 5 says “Build yourselves houses and dwell in them.”

“This effort is not social work, it’s kingdom work,” Johnson said a year ago at a seminar Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan University, where he teaches. “What we’re doing is God’s work in the community, to transform lives and to build generational wealth. The American dream has not changed; it starts for anybody with homeownership.”

Community leaders are fully behind the $13 million project. HCR’s Affordable Homeownership Opportunity Program is providing $4.8 million, $1.86 million is coming from Monroe County’s allotment of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, $1.5 from the city’s ARPA funds and another $500,000 allotment from Rochester City Council.

“When we invest in housing, we’re investing in our people,” Bello said. “This is hope, this is our future, one family at a time.”

Of the 22 houses being built by First Genesis and Rochester Management, 11 will be two-story, three-bedroom homes with full basements and the other 11 will be two- and three-bedroom ranch-style houses. Three houses will be ADA-compliant with roll-in showers, grab bars and accessible kitchen features.

“We are proud to be part of such a transformative project — one that will provide 22 families the opportunity to experience homeownership, an achievement that may have otherwise remained out of reach,” Procious said. “This initiative is a powerful example of what can be accomplished through collaboration.”

And not from what up until now has been the traditional development partnership.

“After many years of prayer, planning and collaboration, the First Genesis Single Family Homes project will be the anchor project to transform families and neighborhoods while changing the landscape for generations,” Johnson said. “This project fulfills the testimony that collaboration with the faith community, civic and private entities can transform our city and start to build generational wealth in underserved and underinvested communities.”

FGDC is already working to finalize funding on a second project. Construction should begin in the spring on First Genesis Apartments, creating another 106 residential units in the neighborhood.

“The goal is not just to build homes, it’s to build families and communities,” Johnson said.

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