Two weeks ago Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan issued a joint statement with Thomas J. Broyhill, president of American Realty Trust of Arlington, Va., announcing agreement on terms for the sale of archdiocesan property in the downtown Atlanta area.

The property, on which Sacred Heart Church and St. Joseph’s High School now sit, is bounded by Baker, Ivy, Forrest and Courtland Streets.

In an interview with Father Jerry Hardy, archdiocesan chancellor, the BULLETIN received further information about the sale:

QUESTION: How much land is involved in the sale?

ANSWER: Approximately six acres. The sale includes land that is currently being used for St. Joseph’s High School and the parking lot at Baker and Ivy Streets, as well as the Sacred Heart convent for the sisters is in the process of being arranged. The sale does not include Sacred Heart Church which will be adequately buffered on the south and east sides by land retained from the sale. Once the sale is accomplished, the archdiocese will lease back the high school site. The school may remain functioning undisturbed in this location through the 1976 graduating exercises.

QUESTION: How much money is involved?

ANSWER: Approximately $6,000,000. However, at this time the archdiocese has received only $10,000 as option money. None of the purchase will be paid until the closing of the contract which is not anticipated before mid 1973. Even at that time, only a minor portion of the sum will be paid with the remainder to be paid out over ten years.

QUESTION: How much time was involved in the negotiations?

ANSWER: Approximately seven months to this date. Archbishop Donnellan decided to delay concluding the arrangement at an earlier date because of the detrimental effect such action would have on enrollment at St. Joseph’s High School. Consequently, it was agreed that no firm agreement would be reached until October 1.

QUESTION: What about St. Joseph’s High School?

ANSWER: As mentioned earlier and as discussed at a September 21 meeting with parents, the school may remain in the present location through the 1976 graduation exercises. The planning and development committee of the school is already working with the archdiocesan board of education and the archdiocesan property commission to find suitable sites for relocating the school.

QUESTION: What about a rectory for Sacred Heart Church?

ANSWER: One is planned for the strip of land between the church and the Imperial Hotel. Feasibility for such a project has already been determined. No plans have been drawn up and none will be until the sale is final.

QUESTION: What will the archbishop do with the proceeds from the sale?

ANSWER: The Ivy Street property represents the largest single financial asset of the Church in North Georgia. It is also the last of its kind. Some of the proceeds from the sale will be used to meet current needs. The remainder will be invested on the advice and counsel of the investment review committee of the archdiocesan financial council. The investment program will be designed to produce enough income to maintain as constant a level of assessments on the parishes as possible while at the same time providing capital for the progressive maintenance of the Church’s programs throughout the archdiocese.

QUESTION: What remains to be done to complete the sale?

ANSWER: The option agreement now in force recites that the purchaser may refuse to conclude the sale if he is unable to get proper zoning and licensing or if there are insurmountable problems arising from soil tests. At this time, steps are underway to expedite these matters.

Obviously, there are many other details involved in a sale of this size. Hopefully, these will clarify the picture.