Clearwater OK to make Scientology land buy conditional, attorney says
Published By admin
The city of Clearwater is on solid ground with conditions attached to the proposed sale of a downtown road segment to the Church of Scientology, the city attorney has concluded.
In a memorandum sent to City Council members last week, David Margolis said it’s within the city’s rights to ensure the sale is in the best interest of the community.
Additionally, the church is seeking this particular roadway as a part of a larger plan for an auditorium. Despite the church insisting this is a vital project for its membership, it has not made discernible steps toward completing it.
The church is seeking to buy a portion of South Garden Avenue for a plaza in front of the auditorium. Under terms tentatively reached in March, the church would purchase the roadway for $1.375 million. It agreed to a timeframe in which the auditorium would be built and to keep the majority of the city property green space.
This was before a separate group offered a counter proposal. Scientology withdrew its request in May, but in a July 3 letter an attorney said the church was planning to resubmit an application.
“The City Council cannot base its decisions on a buyer’s theology, beliefs, or non-secular practices,” Margolis’ memorandum said. “However, the City of Clearwater can lawfully consider any relevant, secular factors prior to surrendering or transferring control of public streets within its downtown core.”
Separate letters sent to Clearwater officials from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and an attorney representing the church have said it is discriminatory for the city to attach conditions to the sale. A spokesperson for Uthmeier’s office and Robert Potter, the attorney representing the church, did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
The Tampa Bay Times received Margolis’ memo through a public records request.
Uthmeier’s letter to Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector in May said he had learned the city may agree to vacate the land only if the church develops its other downtown properties — a condition he said violated a 1978 attorney general opinion.
But Margolis’ memorandum said the city has attached conditions before, and it’s within its rights to do.
The previously agreed upon non-monetary conditions, put forth to ensure a public benefit, were in place before City Council members expressed their own opinions on other property held by the church or its affiliates. Margolis said his office remains neutral in policy decisions, but defends council members’ right to free speech on the dais.
Content retrieved from: https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2025/07/30/church-of-scientology-clearwater-ron-hubbard-hall-james-uthmeier/.
