Catholic Charities Sacred Heart Veteran Village - Community Center

Project Type: New Construction

Size: 5,198 square feet

Architect: Jeffrey Ferweda, AIA, NCARB

Completion Date: October 2025

It takes a village to design and build a village. Sedgewick + Ferweda Architects partnered with Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties alongside a dedicated team of community collaborators to bring Sacred Heart Veteran Village to life. Lurvey Construction served as the builder for the project, while students at Genesee Career Institute (GCI) played a meaningful role in constructing the tiny homes, reinforcing the project’s strong connection to local workforce development and community involvement.

Our team guided the project from early planning through construction, helping shape a supportive housing community designed to help veterans transition into stability. The work included planning and design of a 5,000-square-foot community center and multiple tiny home prototypes, integrating trauma-informed design strategies, thoughtful material selections, and intentional spatial planning to create an environment that feels welcoming rather than institutional. Through collaboration with service providers, municipal partners, and builders, the design balances technical performance with a mission-driven focus on dignity, independence, and long-term success.

ScopE of work

Sacred Heart Veteran Village is a ground-up redevelopment located on the former Sacred Heart Catholic Church property in the City of Flint. Transforming the site required close collaboration with municipal partners, including transitioning the zoning to a Planned Unit Development (PUD), the first of its kind in Genesee County. This flexible zoning approach allowed for a thoughtfully planned community that combines clustered housing, shared amenities, and varied site layouts to support both independence and connection.

Site planning focused on creating a safe, walkable environment with clear sightlines, accessible pathways, and intentional outdoor gathering spaces. The layout balances privacy with opportunities for interaction, reinforcing the Village’s goal of creating a supportive neighborhood rather than a traditional housing development.

The site

The Sacred Heart Veteran Village was designed as a phased development centered around a 5,000-square-foot community center and a neighborhood of thoughtfully planned tiny homes. The housing component includes four distinct unit prototypes: two studio layouts and two one-bedroom designs, each developed with multiple façade options to create variety while maintaining a cohesive architectural identity. A comprehensive site plan organizes the homes into a walkable village environment that balances independence with community connection.

At the heart of the project is the community center, which provides communal gathering areas, counseling spaces, and supportive services that help veterans transition into stable, long-term housing. The development is structured in two phases: Phase One includes construction of the community center and the first four tiny homes, establishing the foundation of the Village, while Phase Two will expand the neighborhood with the remaining homes as fundraising efforts continue. The design approach emphasizes efficiency, dignity, and flexibility, creating a supportive environment that feels welcoming rather than institutional while allowing the Village to grow over time as additional resources become available.