CHARLOTTE — Church repairs, new classrooms, new rectories and even a new road – the Diocese of Charlotte Properties Office anticipates these and other major projects in nine parishes and schools this year.
The diocesan Properties Office works in conjunction with parishes and Catholic schools around western North Carolina on building projects and needed improvements.
Anthony Morlando, the office’s director, notes the following are all on his calendar or under consideration for the new year:
- Christ the King High School, Huntersville: Construction continues on a 27,000-square-foot expansion that includes 15 classrooms, cafeteria, band room and shop space. A new, second entrance road to the school is also being completed for better access, safety and future growth.
- Charlotte Catholic High School, Charlotte: Creation of an “Athletic Hall of Fame” in the hallway leading to the gymnasium. The CCHS Athletic Association and the Alumni Association are funding the beatification project to paint the walls, provide environmental graphics and a legacy wall documenting past CCHS athletic achievements and awards using both print graphics and electronic signage.
- Our Lady of the Assumption School, Charlotte: A new 2,400-square-foot “cafetorium” space is currently in the design phase. A $300,000 grant from a private donor will help fund the new cafetorium as well as the conversion of the existing library into a new STEM lab which will include audiovisual room updates and a new maker space at the school to provide students a creative space to learn through making. The grant will also help fund new technology, such as network and technology improvements.
- Old St. Joseph Church, Mount Holly: This project includes making critical repairs to the historic structure, with an anticipated completion date of March 17 to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day events traditionally celebrated at the church.
- St. Andrew the Apostle Church, Mars Hill: A new rectory is under construction on the church’s property.
- St. Charles Borromeo Church, Morganton: A new rectory is under construction on the site of the former rectory, which had burned down.
- St. Lawrence Basilica, Asheville: The process of soliciting quotes has begun to enlist a firm that will conduct an analysis of the historical building’s condition and the repairs it will need in the future.
- St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte: Design work is under way on improving the cathedral’s overall lighting levels as well as energy efficiency.
- St. Philip the Apostle Church, Statesville: An 8,500-square-foot Social Hall is currently in design to be built on the site of the old rectory, next to the parish administrative building.
- St. Joseph College Seminary, Mount Holly: A land study has been completed and design/development drawings are in the final phase. Once those are completed, the project will be sent to the general contractor for current pricing estimates, which will then be reviewed by the Chancery, expected to be sometime in February. Fundraising for construction of the college seminary will begin later in 2018.
This is probably not a comprehensive list, diocesan officials note. More parish projects are anticipated on the horizon after the diocesan “Forward in Faith, Hope and Love” campaign concludes by the summer of 2019, after which time parishes may launch their own new capital campaigns.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter