Sale pending for former Pennsport Catholic school

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has an agreement of sale with Christopher Columbus Charter School to sell a century-old property in South Philadelphia, the former Sacred Heart of Jesus parochial school, an archdiocesan spokeswoman said.

The property on Moyamensing Avenue near Reed Street in Pennsport, will be sold for about $2.7 million, according to a source familiar with negotiations.

Sacred Heart school was one of several Catholic schools in the Philadelphia area closed by the Archdiocese in June. Local residents took their appeal to the Vatican, asking the Holy See to merge the school with nearby Mt. Carmel School, which was also closing, but no action was taken.

Rosemary Dougherty, chief executive of Christopher Columbus, said the school "is still negotiating" and no decisions have been made.

"We'll be adding to the school ," she said. "Exactly what our configuration is going to be, we have no idea. When we do know what we're doing, we will set up a meeting with parents and community members."

The school has about 760 students.

The Archdiocese also agreed to a three-year lease of the former Stella Maris school to Mastery Charter, which plans to open a K-6 school at 9th and Johnston.