Scientologists Approved To Build Large Auditorium In Florida Community As Residents Weigh Lawsuits To Stop The Project

A Florida metropolis has handed power of a downtown thoroughfare to nan Church of Scientology for a planned auditorium, drafting backlash and threats of ineligible action from residents.

In a ballot this week, nan Clearwater City Council approved vacating South Garden Avenue, a short roadworthy beside nan church’s Flag Building, which spans an full metropolis block. The church, which boasts a ample stock of members successful nan Gulf Coast city, plans to build an arena abstraction connected nan tract named aft its founder, L. Ron Hubbard.

Before nan vote, dozens of organization residents flooded into a metropolis assembly meeting, pinch immoderate forced to hold outside. During a nationalist remark period, reactions ranged from fervent support for nan task to fierce opposition.

“For galore of us, this isn’t conscionable different building project. It’s thing we’ve worked toward for years,” 1 religion personnel told officials. The woman, who described herself arsenic some a Scientologist and a Jew, said she wants a safe abstraction to worship, citing a emergence successful anti-Semitism.

Another religion personnel recalled being singled retired for her belief arsenic a kid increasing up successful Clearwater.

“I would for illustration to deliberation that those days are over, but successful reality they’re not,” she said. “Vacating Garden Avenue would create that opportunity of creating consecutive abstraction and an due buffer to support arena attendees free from harassment and danger.”

Some opponents of nan improvement task said they're not against Scientology, but against closing disconnected a nationalist space, which 1 described arsenic a betrayal of taxpayers.

“People don’t attraction astir what different religions believe,” a spokesperson for nan group called Save nan Garden, told officials. “But they do attraction astir nan property, nan spot that they live.”

“We’re each free to judge immoderate we want, but we’re besides each invited members of 1 community, and we request to support nan grid open, we request to support nan buildings open,” he said.

He added that his group remains "committed to action,” including by filing a suit against nan city.

Jose Estigarribia, an lawyer representing a section business owner, said he is already successful nan process of taking ineligible action successful bid to find who “the rightful owner” of nan road.

After astir an hr of commentary, nan metropolis assembly voted 3-2 to vacate South Garden Avenue.

The Church of Scientology, founded successful 1954, has millions of adherents worldwide, including respective 1000 successful nan Clearwater area, according to its website. Beyond nan Flag Building, it owns astir 2 twelve different downtown properties, making it nan area's largest spot taxpayer.

The church's important portfolio has created hostility successful nan city, successful portion because galore of nan buildings it owns person remained quiet contempt years of urging from metropolis officials, The Independent antecedently reported.

“We really are seeing momentum and would emotion for them to activate nan properties,” Mayor Bruce Rector said earlier this year.

The religion has faced aggregate allegations complete nan years, including that it mistreats its members and engages successful predatory financial practices.

A number of celebrities person been associated pinch nan church, including Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Leah Remini, who near nan statement complete a decade ago, said successful 2024 that her life has been a “constant struggle.”

The Independent has reached retired to a religion typical for comment.