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The Diocese of Charlotte wants to purchase the city-owned property across the street from the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Asheville. The diocese hopes to complement the basilica, by building a plaza out toward the street, with smaller buildings at the rear of the plaza. McKibbon Hotel Group also wants to purchase that property. McKibbon wants to build a hotel. City officials are considering whether to sell the site to McKibbon or to the diocese.

Two issues to consider are:

First, it is nearly unconscionable to allow our very beautiful basilica to be overshadowed, diminished or blocked by a hotel. Also, of importance is the fact that our downtown hotels are presently at less than 63 percent occupancy.

Second, although Catholics are a minority in western North Carolina, the Catholic Church has made many significant contributions to Asheville. In 1900 the Church opened a tuberculosis sanitarium (which later became St. Joseph's Hospital). The Church gave us Sisters of Mercy urgent care centers, Catholic Social Services, and many churches and schools. Also of note, the Church has always been a good steward of its properties. Allowing the Church to purchase the property that is basically in its own front yard is simply the right thing to do.

In the past three months city officials have moved closer to selling that property, either to McKibbon or to the diocese. I urge Catholic News Herald readers to contact Asheville city officials, before it's too late, and encourage them to sell the property to the diocese. Contact them at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Anne Fitzgerald Smith lives in Asheville.