Archdiocese of Philadelphia holds property auction

 The Archdiocese of Philadelphia auctioned off seven properties Wednesday, July 14, 2013.  (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia auctioned off seven properties Wednesday, July 14, 2013. (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia and some of its parishes joined together to auction off a handful of properties. Proceeds of the sales, officials say, will help the archdiocese cut its deficit.

The bidding was fast but not exactly furious Wednesday. Seven properties were to be auctioned, but bidders for three of the properties did not offer enough to meet the minimums set by the archdiocese and the parishes. Another was sold before the auction.

Archdiocese officials are happy with the results, said spokesman Ken Gavin.

“This was sort of a non-traditional means that had worked well for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in the past,” he said. “These were properties, which had been on the traditional market for a while. So here was a new method and an exciting method to realize funds for the parishes from the properties.”

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Developer Dipal Pandya bought a property in Rydal for $325,000.

“We intend to put up a nice estate home for an individual who wants to live in that area,” Pandya said. “It’s a very nice private area to live in.”

 A 48-acre undeveloped property in Plumstead, Bucks County, sold before the auction for $850,000.

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