Secondary alternative might be some hybrid bringing using airbnb as an option especially on big weekends like, Big Ten Football games, Mom's weekend, Dad's weekend, Graduation, etc. 

We live 20 minutes to the Pro Football Hall of Fame (They're spending $500 million dollars to expand the HOF so that it's a major destination).

Recently, my girlfriend and I went to a Clemson University football game in South Carolina.

Not to mention BU has a new football stadium.

Now...back to college football preview shows...

Beyond that I’ll be spending my summer on the beaches of Nice France, and in the mountain of Colorado.

You could replace the word church in my question with temple or many old building types not designed for living in full time.Traditional french religious institutions used to own and still own many old buildings of all kinds across France and have been selling a number of them for a relatively reasonable amount of money.

New construction at least at this point is not over built like the last free fall.some areas in the country as you say have been in decline for decades with only very slow movement to the better  ( think Detroit and some rust belt areas)Other markets are on fire and given job growth and lack of buildable land a major retrench is not likely  think ( Charleston SC and Portlandia as two).in the meantime I know my teams are killing it right now.... so its like in football you have a 3 touchdown lead going into the second half you play not to lose and you end up losing..

If you are near colleges, ball parks, or football stadiums then you are in business especially if you are in a city where Airbnb is supported by the city.

And I had even read an article that the mayor or city commissioner (can't remember who exactly) was turning to the owner of the football team to help turn the city around.Jacksonville is geographically located in Florida where they have beaches, great marine/fishing lifestyle, they get three seasons (ish), are only a few hours drive away from Orlando and Atlanta and St Augustine.