Los Angeles’ Catholic archbishop had hoped to sell the multimillion-dollar property to the pop star, but nuns objected, leading to a legal dispute.
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Perry, who rose to fame with the hit song I Kissed a Girl, offered to buy the 3 hectare property for US$14.5 million (NZ$20.96m) to use as a private residence for herself.
The singer’s efforts to purchase the home, which is getting on in age, were stalled after some of the Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary made a decision to sell the convent to entrepreneur Dana Hollister.
Katy Perry has moved one step closer to becoming the owner of a Roman Catholic convent in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Stephanie Bowick ruled that attempts to sell the property to the businesswoman by members of an order of elderly nuns were improper. The property was previously sold to a Los Angeles businesswoman, but that sale was voided.
Hollister, for her part, insisted she was undecided on her plans for the convent. Her attorney could not immediately be reached.
The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary argued the hilltop convent was theirs, and that they agreed to a $15.5m (£10.9m) deal with local restaurateur, Dana Hollister.
“Subject to our receiving the written order, we are very pleased with the Judge’s description of her ruling this morning”, said Katy’s attorney Eric Rowen. Hollister had planned to turn that building into a boutique hotel, which drew concerns from some neighbors.
Hollister was in the process of renovating the convent when she was sued by the archdiocese a year ago, sparking months of litigation and highlighting conflict between the nuns and the archdiocese.
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The archdiocese filed a lawsuit last June asserting it had the final say over disposition of the property for the nuns’ benefit. But Sister Rita did an extensive Google search on the “Roar” singer and wasn’t impressed with what she found, saying, “Well, I found Katy Perry, and I found her videos and…if it’s all right to say, I wasn’t happy with any of it”.
