Scientology resubmits request for South Garden Avenue in Clearwater
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The Church of Scientology has submitted a new request to obtain a segment of South Garden Avenue downtown as part of plans for an event space, a proposal that drew protest and a counteroffer last year.
It is also asking the city to vacate portions of two other roads, Laura and Grove streets, as well an alleyway and another city-owned parcel, for a separate, recently announced entertainment complex.
The Garden Avenue request prompted back-and-forth with the state attorney general and church last year. The church has international spiritual headquarters downtown, and companies with ties to the church have purchased more than 200 properties downtown, the Tampa Bay Times has reported.
Residents and city officials have expressed their frustration with these properties remaining undeveloped.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier weighed in on the earlier request for Garden Avenue, warning the city that attaching conditions to the transfer could be unlawful and some comments made on the dais suggested religious discrimination.
“If discrimination forms a basis for any decision to reject or place restrictions on approval, such a decision would run afoul of Florida law,” Uthmeier wrote in a letter to Mayor Bruce Rector last year.
In its latest filings, Scientology also is asking the city to vacate portions of Grove Street, Laura Street and the alley between North Myrtle Avenue and North East Avenue. This request is for a proposed family entertainment center and also asks for a city-owned parcel.
The complex is being spearheaded by the Scientology-affiliated Cleveland Street Alliance, which said the development would have the largest movie screen in the world. It would also be located downtown on Myrtle Avenue and Cleveland Street.
At a City Council meeting Thursday, council member Mike Mannino shared his frustration with the church not having discussions about its development plans in public.
He floated the idea of having a special session to discuss the issue.
“All of the education, all of the information, seems to be coming from the Church of Scientology or from news channels,” he said last week. “At some point we have to have these challenging discussions here in the sunshine.”
Read more https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2026/04/28/clearwater-church-of-scientology-garden-avenue/
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