Diocese asks City of Asheville to sell them the land near St. Lawrence Basilica…

ASHEVILLE — St. Lawrence Basilica parishioners and supporters were “shocked” to learn earlier this week that the city of Asheville is preparing a contract to sell land near the historically significant 100-year-old basilica to a hotel group instead of the Diocese of Charlotte.

During a May 22 city council meeting, City Manager Gary Jackson said the city is preparing a contract for purchase with the McKibbon Hotel Group of Gainesville for the 0.77-acre city-owned property. [read more]

There is an online petition asking the Asheville City Council to sell the land to the diocese instead to preserve the integrity of the land near the basilica and prevent further damage to the crack in the dome – the largest free standing elliptical dome in North America. You can sign that petition here. So far they have 375 signatures of the needed 500 signatures.