Sometime in late February the occupants of 756 West Peachtree Street will no longer be the central offices of the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta but those of the Lutheran Church. This will be the result of no “conversion” process, but rather the conclusion of a lengthy and pleasant real estate negotiation between the two chancery offices.

Early in 1979 it was learned that the Lutherans might be interested in buying the 11,000 square foot site to house their central administration. At that time the archdiocese was already actively seeking a new and larger location for its offices and agencies. Thus began the negotiations which were concluded on December 20. The sale price was $317,000.

“The similarities of their situation as they come to this building are almost identical to ours when we came to it ten years ago,” noted Monsignor Jerry E. Hardy, Chancellor. “At that time we had the Chancery in the Archbishop’s residence, the Tribunal and Georgia Bulletin in the Cathedral rectory basement, and the offices for the Catholic schools, religious education and Social Services in the old Marist building next to Sacred Heart. Reverend John Sims, the Lutheran “Chancellor”, said their offices are presently spread all around the city. I think they are as anxious to get everyone together as we were.”

The new location for the archdiocesan offices is only a block and a half away, 680 West Peachtree Street. It is a three-story 33,000 square foot site which most recently housed the offices for the Atlanta Housing Authority. The building is being totally renovated. When completed only the two upper floors will be used by the archdiocese, with the ground floor being leased out.