Collaboration Marks A Milestone In The Diocese's Effort To Evaluate And Repurpose Underutilized Church Properties, So That 'All Things Are Made New'

CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / Michaels is proud to announce that The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania has selected our organization as its strategic partner for its Transformation Initiative. This collaboration marks a milestone in the Diocese's effort to evaluate and repurpose underutilized church properties for their "highest and best use," including the development of mixed-use, market-rate, workforce, and active adult housing, along with other uses.

"We feel privileged that the Diocese has entrusted Michaels with this important initiative," said Milton Pratt, Michaels' Executive Vice President of Development. "We have tremendous respect for the financial stewardship that the Initiative members have shown, and we are working in close collaboration with them to maximize their ability to serve their ministry and their local parishes, as well as the greater community."

In 2018, The Rt. Rev. Daniel Gutiérrez, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, envisioned a different way to recast assets and generate income so that the diocesan churches could spend less time and money managing their buildings and more time "proclaiming the Good News of Jesus."

The Transformation Initiative was born with a straightforward concept: a team of faithful Episcopalians with expertise in development, law, financing, and community development will walk diocesan church properties to explore possibilities with the church's leadership. Church leadership will provide feedback from their community and the needs of that community. This could result in housing for veterans, seniors, community centers, etc.

"Liberated by the anxiety of structures, we can go out and serve the poor, reflecting the hope and love of our Savior," said Gutiérrez. "All things are being made new, and in the process, we are building a community and preparing for the next 250 years. This is revolutionary."

The initiative is described as both "practical and prophetic"-practical in addressing urgent community development needs and prophetic in revitalizing the church's mission through novel approaches to stewardship. A key component of the partnership is a revenue-sharing plan that ensures individual parishes benefit financially without needing to become real estate specialists themselves.

By partnering with The Michaels Organization-one of the nation's largest multi-family developers with over 75,000 units in 39 states-the Diocese aims to unlock value and streamline operations through the creation of multifamily housing and adaptive reuse projects that fit with neighborhood character and context.

The Diocese of Pennsylvania and The Michaels Organization emphasize that community engagement is central to the process. "Listening and learning about each parish is always the best starting place," said Pratt, noting that the development process will prioritize input from local parish leadership and neighborhood stakeholders regarding future uses.

Michaels will serve as both a Development Consultant on the Master Plan and as the developer on some selective sites. Michaels has engaged Urban Practice, a leading architectural firm known for its Initiative partnerships and its leadership in urban planning, sustainability, and community impact to serve on its development team.

About The Michaels Organization: The Michaels Organization is a national leader in residential real estate, offering full-service capabilities in development, property management, construction and investment. Serving more than 200,000 residents in more than 600 communities across 39 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Michaels is committed to crafting housing solutions that jumpstart education, civic engagement and neighborhood prosperity, and to creating Communities that Lift Lives.

About the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania: The Episcopal Diocese has 136 congregations across 5 counties in southeastern Pennsylvania. Diverse, spirit-filled places of belonging. Episcopalians believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We have a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God's love for every human being; women and men serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church. www.diopa.org

Media Contact: Laura Zaner for The Michaels Organization, 856-988-5983

SOURCE: The Michaels Organization