My present understanding is that a committee was constituted for the purpose of procuring land and directing the establishment of a church, convent, priory, school, and cemetery. I am given to understand that the intention is to equal, if not surpass, St. Mary’s, with the expectation of success arising chiefly from the proximity of the proposed site to Charlotte.
One of the stated conditions was that the location should not lie more than two turns removed from a principal highway or interstate road. This reasoning appears somewhat difficult to comprehend, considering the abundance of modern contrivances capable of furnishing precise directions from place to place.
It has likewise been asserted that upwards of 3,000 parcels of land were examined before this particular property was found to satisfy the requirements of the undertaking, whatever those requirements may have been, as the particulars appear to have been communicated only to a select number of persons.
The property itself is regarded as historic, there being upon it a structure dating from the decade of the 1850s.
The land in question forms part of a larger tract which, to the best of my knowledge and according to the latest information available, has not yet been surveyed and divided. The larger parcel bears a market valuation, according to the tax records, of $1,515,991.
I am informed that the chapel has accuмulated approximately $1.7 million, and that an additional $1.7 million is now sought. This latter amount is said to include a fee of $600,000 for the services of an architect—reportedly among the costliest in Charlotte—as well as certain other expenses which have not yet been clearly explained, all in connection with the acquisition of the property.
N.B. Based on Facebook posts, I believe there really is only one person/family planning the architecture of the new church.
This sum appears to exceed the assessed market value of the entire tract prior to its proposed division.
It remains uncertain whether an appraisal has been conducted upon the approximately twenty-eight acres offered for purchase, and therefore whether the property may reasonably be said to justify a valuation of $3.4 million.
The date fixed for closing has been floating with a final closing date of the 8th day of July, 2026 contingent on us coming up with the remaining $1.7 million.
If this amount were apportioned among 400 persons, the expected contribution of each would amount to approximately $4,250.
Since the announcement, there have been tours of the property lead by three particular HNS members. I am not sure of the reason for this, other than to excite folks or to corner and ask for funds, but essentially, it is a tour and then talk of the plans- including selling parts of the land to businesses to help fund the project.
At present, many remain uninformed as to the condition or progress of the fundraising efforts. I have made inquiries on several occasions, yet the matter appears to be treated with a considerable degree of reserve.
Topic: Prayers for the North Carolina Chapel Needed (Read 138719 times)