PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla — The Church of Scientology has withdrawn its controversial proposal that had the potential to reshape a part of Downtown Clearwater.
At the center of the debate was a proposal to sell a portion of Garden Avenue to the church, which owns much of the surrounding property. The church had plans to build an auditorium and public park on the site, but the idea ignited strong backlash and a competing vision from a local grassroots organization.
While the Clearwater City Council was initially going to vote on Thursday, the church has now withdrawn the proposal to buy the property.
Not everyone supported the plan. Brooks Gibbs, the founder of Reconnect Clearwater, is leading a counterproposal called Save the Garden. Rather than selling the street to the church, this group wants to use it to create a memorial park honoring Clearwater's diverse history.
“The Church of Scientology is such a minority in this town, yet they own a monopoly of property. It’s a total imbalance. We’re trying to stop that imbalance and bring citizens back to Clearwater," Gibbs said.
Gibbs is working with Barbara Corey Love from the African American Heritage Foundation. She said the city has an opportunity to preserve and share important local stories, especially those of African American residents.
“Buildings don’t have feelings, they don’t share emotions, they don’t tell stories. The African American presence in Clearwater was so prevalent, it needs to be told,” Sorey Love said.
Gibbs explained that their plan would preserve access to the roadway while converting part of it into an interactive Memorial Park. Save the Garden has not yet officially filed to vacate the land.
Mayor Bruce Rector voiced opposition to selling the property to the church.
“It’s not good for the community to close that street," he said.
However, not all city leaders agree. Ryan Cotton expressed his support in a statement.
"City staff negotiated the sales contract in a way that protects taxpayers, and I believe they handled it very well," he said.
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