A Miracle on 7th Street

Little Rock A.M.E. Zion Church has been a staple in uptown Charlotte since the early 1900s. In the late 1970s, changes in the surrounding community due to urban renewal displaced many black families and churches. In a remarkable turn of events, Little Rock Church remained standing as the City of Charlotte engaged in a land swap, acquiring the old church building and facilitating the construction of the current modern church complex in 1980, led by Dr. William Milton White, Sr.

The old Little Rock Church building was repurposed by the City of Charlotte and served as The Afro-American Cultural Center for nearly 30 years until its relocation to the city’s Art Center in 2009. In 2005, when Dr. Dwayne Walker became pastor, he observed the development in the neighborhood but felt Little Rock was not progressing in the same manner. Together with the church officers, they successfully negotiated with the city to repurchase the historic old church building, now designated as a landmark, intending to utilize it for community service. The renovated building now boasts a gallery, an auditorium, a theatre stage, community meeting spaces, an amphitheater, and office facilities, all owned outright by the church.

Dr. Walker went further in 2006 to establish The Little Rock Community Development Corporation (CDC) with a mission to empower the community through various programs, providing a “hand up, instead of a handout.” Collaboration with the city of Charlotte in 2017 led to the donation of land next to The Little Rock Cultural Center for the construction of affordable housing. With a developer partner, Laurel Street Residential, and city support, the Little Rock CDC acquired the land and successfully built a 105-unit apartment complex, Varick on 7th, addressing the housing crisis in Charlotte. The facility includes both affordable and market-rate units, offering a valuable asset to the community.

The project, financed independently through a separate LLC, benefits the Little Rock CDC and Little Rock A.M.E. Zion Church, with 67% of revenue, parking proceeds, and Cultural Center space rentals directed towards the church. Additionally, the church earns revenue through a partnership with Preferred Parking Management Company for parking lot usage.

This transformative journey, showcasing visionary leadership and collaborative efforts, represents a remarkable achievement of leveraging real estate valued at approximately $50 million while maintaining a mortgage of less than a million dollars. The success story of Little Rock Church and The Little Rock Community Development Corporation stands as a testament to faith, innovation, and community impact on 7th Street. Truly, a miracle!