Scientology Lies

By Shannon Brennan, Sun staff writer

A private developer wants to buy the downtown Clearwater Elks Club, if the city of Clearwater will issue $600,000 in industrial revenue development bonds, his attorney told city commissioners Monday.

The Church of Scientology offered the Elks $240,000 for the building in December.

Tim Johnson Jr., attorney for Charles Rutenberg, asked commissioners to issue industrial bonds to Imperial Construction Co. for the purchase and renovation of the Elks Club at 516 Franklin St.

Johnson also asked that between 25 and 30 city parking spaces be freed for the complex.

Contacted by telephone Monday afternoon, Exalted Ruler Edward Stein said Rutenberg had not made the Elks an offer on the property and he had no knowledge of such a proposition.

But Johnson said an architect hired by Rutenberg has studied the property and decided that it is a viable project. Johnson said that although the proposal has been discussed, Rutenberg has not made a firm offer to the Elks.

Johnson said his client wants to renovate the two-story building but has not decided whether expansion will be necessary.

"It will be an office building for any tenant who will pay the rent," he said.

In a Jan. 12 letter to Elks members, Stein said members will vote on the offer by the Church of Scientology at their Jan. 25 meeting.

Hugh Wilhere, spokesman for the church, said Rutenberg's proposal was "curious" but beyond that said only, "We have an offer in to them."

City commissioners seemed pleased with Rutenberg's offer.

"I'm very glad you're looking at this," said Mayor Charles LeCher. "I'm glad private enterprise is taking the initiative."

Some Scientology opponents have been critical of the Elks for discussing a sale to the church.

"I would hope they (Elks members) would have more of a sense of responsibility to the community and their country," Pinellas County Commissioner Gabe Cazares said when the church's offer was announced.

The Church of Scientology, which owns seven major properties in or near downtown Clearwater, was founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard in 1954. The sect offers counseling, called auditing, which the sect says will rid believers of harmful mental imprints.

Johnson said Rutenberg's decision to negotiate with the city has nothing to do with the Church of Scientology's offer.

"This is a business opportunity perceived by Mr. Rutenberg," he said, "an opportunity to get into the downtown market."

City Manager Anthony Shoemaker said he will recommend approval of Rutenberg's request.

"We think it could be a very successful program," he said, adding that city parking spaces are available and meters could be removed.