http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/scientology-plans-control-of-downtown-clearwater-for-retail-makeover/2315501
"The Church of Scientology is maneuvering to control all downtown real
estate to create a master retail district that will operate under its
management and oversight.
The plan, according to two city officials briefed by Scientology
leader David Miscavige, requires all property from Osceola to Myrtle
avenues between Drew and Pierce streets being bought by the church, its
parishioners or others willing to participate."
This is not new. In 1975 Scientology's Project Normandy discussed how to control Clearwater. Their Source magazine in the 1990s told of the goal to make Clearwater "The first Scientology city."
Now they are discussing with city officials in private how to redesign downtown Clearwater the way they want it. They are buying up property to make this a reality. Will city officials kowtow to Scientology's desire to make Clearwater the "first Scientology city"?
One of the things that I find most disturbing, is that Scientology has a terrible track record of getting building projects done, as we know from the Super Power building that was an eyesore and nuisance in downtown for 15 years. But that turns out to actually be a worldwide problem with them, I found a list of cities where Scientology has bought large historic buildings to renovate, but then left them derelict, in most cases for over a decade. I've verified these as best as possible, and there may even be more:
ReplyDeleteUNITED STATES: Battle Creek, MI; Boston, MA (derelict historic property put back on market, bought newer office building that still sits empty); Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Kansas City, MO; New Haven, CT; Philadelphia, PA; San Diego, CA (abandoned historic property put back on market, renovated existing building); St. Louis, MO
CANADA: Toronto, Ontario (vacated existing building but have not renovated it); Montréal, Québec
ENGLAND: Birmingham; Manchester; Plymouth; Sunderland
SOUTH AFRICA and ZIMBABWE: About half a dozen abandoned major projects, not all historic downtown buildings.