By Father Jerry Hardy

Negotiations for the sale of the downtown Ivy Street property of the archdiocese were successfully concluded on October 1. Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan signed over deeds to the approximately six acres of land adjacent to Sacred Heart Church.

The sale price of the land was slightly in excess of $6 million.

The sale of this property represents the sale of the last real asset of the archdiocese. Investment of the income, most of which will be received over the next 10 years, will be used for the relocation of St. Joseph High School as well as for the future growth and development of the archdiocese.

Commenting on the sale, Archbishop Donnellan issued the following statement: “The now concluded negotiations for the sale of the Ivy Street property offer us an opportunity to reiterate certain points made earlier in relation to St. Joseph High School. Briefly those points are:

“The sale agreement, now finalized, includes a provision whereby St. Joseph’s can remain in its present location until 1976.

“However, the growth, development and all-around well-being of the school dictate that it have a stable location as soon as possible.

“Toward that end, an exhaustive search for relocation sites has been under way for the past year and is nearing completion. The alternative site will be announced, hopefully, in the near future.

“As has been stated repeatedly, every conceivable effort is being made to relocate the school is an area that will allow it to serve its present student body, provide a first quality education and be as accessible as possible to as many of our people as possible.”

Purchaser of the property is the American Realty Trust Company, which has not yet disclosed its plans for the tract.