13 votes

What should America do with its empty church buildings?

15 comments

  1. [10]
    demifiend
    Link
    I have some ideas: Low-income housing Public libraries Brothels

    I have some ideas:

    • Low-income housing
    • Public libraries
    • Brothels
    12 votes
    1. [5]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. [3]
        demifiend
        Link Parent
        IMO, it ought to be legalized, sex workers should have their own union, and all brothels should be worker-owned cooperatives. Incels can go to Nevada and get their itch scratched in one of the...

        Seriously though, the older I get the more I feel like the US could solve a lot of its issues by enabling a well regulated prostitution industry.

        IMO, it ought to be legalized, sex workers should have their own union, and all brothels should be worker-owned cooperatives.

        Incels, for instance, would have a lot less to complain about.

        Incels can go to Nevada and get their itch scratched in one of the state's legal brothels right now. They refuse to do so, because they don't think it counts if you pay cash up front.

        10 votes
        1. [2]
          unknown user
          Link Parent
          But it doesn't count for them, does it? They are buried deep in the belief that they can not attract anybody, and their mythology includes rich womanizers as an evil breed of humans (as far as I...

          But it doesn't count for them, does it? They are buried deep in the belief that they can not attract anybody, and their mythology includes rich womanizers as an evil breed of humans (as far as I learned from the ContraPoints video posted here recently). So it's sort of adding insult to injury for them.

          3 votes
          1. Wayfarer
            Link Parent
            It probably wouldn't help current incels (as in, people with a deep-seated incel mentality) too much unless they were willing to try it, which is unlikely because of the reasons you mentioned....

            It probably wouldn't help current incels (as in, people with a deep-seated incel mentality) too much unless they were willing to try it, which is unlikely because of the reasons you mentioned.

            However, it would help prevent that mentality from growing in the first place, in my opinion. There's a hell of a lot to be said for the confidence that comes from getting some experience in that area.

            4 votes
      2. saydie
        Link Parent
        That would certainly make a dent in the number of horrible internet comments.

        That would certainly make a dent in the number of horrible internet comments.

        2 votes
    2. [2]
      saydie
      Link Parent
      Churches don't lend themselves well to housing. Remodeling costs would be very high. Libraries are a great idea.

      Churches don't lend themselves well to housing. Remodeling costs would be very high. Libraries are a great idea.

      5 votes
      1. mrbig
        Link Parent
        I think homeless people wouldn’t complain.

        I think homeless people wouldn’t complain.

        2 votes
    3. [2]
      boot20
      Link Parent
      I love the idea of low income housing. It would take too much money, time, or effort to convert most churches.

      I love the idea of low income housing. It would take too much money, time, or effort to convert most churches.

      1. demifiend
        Link Parent
        Is dynamite really that expensive?

        It would take too much money, time, or effort to convert most churches.

        Is dynamite really that expensive?

        1 vote
    4. DapperCat
      Link Parent
      In my hometown an old church got remodeled into the local library a decade ago; as a result we kept a nice looking historical building from being potentially destroyed, it revitalized the...

      In my hometown an old church got remodeled into the local library a decade ago; as a result we kept a nice looking historical building from being potentially destroyed, it revitalized the neighborhood and our library got bigger. Definitely a great idea!

  2. Hypersapien
    Link
    Community centers? Local meeting halls?

    Community centers? Local meeting halls?

    9 votes
  3. [2]
    Tlon_Uqbar
    Link
    I went to see a rock concert in a neo-gothic church (still functioning, but they rent out the space when there isn't something else going on). Needless to say the acoustics were incredible, and it...

    I went to see a rock concert in a neo-gothic church (still functioning, but they rent out the space when there isn't something else going on). Needless to say the acoustics were incredible, and it was a memorable show just for the venue.

    My suggestion would be secular community culture spaces: music, art, pop-up shops, day camp, etc.

    9 votes
    1. demifiend
      Link Parent
      This is what they do at the Magdalene in Paris. My wife and I attended a performance by a string quartet led by Frédèric Moreau there in 2017, as well as a performance of Mozart's Requiem.

      My suggestion would be secular community culture spaces: music, art, pop-up shops, day camp, etc.

      This is what they do at the Magdalene in Paris. My wife and I attended a performance by a string quartet led by Frédèric Moreau there in 2017, as well as a performance of Mozart's Requiem.

      2 votes
  4. tildez
    Link
    There's a gorgeous old church in Denver that was bought by a couple and converted into an Airbnb - https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/8800911

    There's a gorgeous old church in Denver that was bought by a couple and converted into an Airbnb - https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/8800911

    6 votes
  5. hdb2
    Link
    Some churches make fantastic recording spaces for music. It would be nice to see them turned into a venue for performing/recording/rehearsing/etc. for musicians.

    Some churches make fantastic recording spaces for music. It would be nice to see them turned into a venue for performing/recording/rehearsing/etc. for musicians.

    5 votes