The former Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, along with its school and rectory, in the heart of St. Roch have been purchased by a new nonprofit that plans to turn the abandoned buildings into a spiritually focused community center for artists.
Art Temple, as the new organization is known, purchased the three buildings in a deal that was finalized Thursday. A sale price was not disclosed, but the 1.3-acre complex had been listed for sale since early 2025 for $1.15 million.
Local architect and developer Trenton Gauthier, 36, the founder of Art Temple, said in an interview that his vision for the property is to first secure and repair damage to the three buildings, which haven’t been used since the Archdiocese of New Orleans closed the parish in mid-2024. Then, he aims to transform them into a campus for the city’s creative workers.
“What excites me is that we do not have to turn it into something alien,” Gauthier said. “The church remains a place of worship and gathering. The school becomes a place for making, teaching and public learning. The rectory returns to communal religious life through residency, meals, hospitality, and gardens.”…