The Scientology-owned landmark Fort Harrison Hotel is shrouded in scaffolding as it gets gussied up in a $30 million renovation project started in April.Updated electrical and communication systems, three commercial kitchens, two catering kitchens, a poolside bar and a tea lounge are among the renovations.
The article also contains more stuff about Scientology-owned real estates in Clearwater, written in a confusing manner, as well as quoted praises about the CoS cooperation in the real estate area.
Church of Scientology spiffs up Fort Harrison Hotel, plans interior work on Flag Building - Dallas Business Journal: (full article)
CLEARWATER — The largest building downtown and its little sister are hard to miss.
The Mediterranean-revival Flag Building occupies an entire city block. It is connected via an overhead walkway to the landmark Fort Harrison Hotel across the street to the west.
The Church of Scientology owns both, and each is in a phase of multimillion-dollar construction.
The hotel is shrouded in scaffolding as it gets gussied up in a $30 million renovation project started in April.
Looking from outside, the Flag Building appears nearly finished. However, the exterior shell of the church’s new world spiritual headquarters hides from view interior work necessary to complete the gigantic building after construction began nearly 10 years ago.
When these projects and others planned are completed, the Church of Scientology will own about 2 million square feet in downtown Clearwater. The Scientologists thus are an obvious presence in the commercial real estate arena.
“They are a major force downtown, and they take good care of properties they own,” said Laura St. Clair, senior consultant at Colliers Arnold and a member of Clearwater Downtown Partnership’s advisory board. “They are a draw and create tremendous opportunities.”
Arnold Brown Properties LLC, an affiliated business that has dealt with the church to amass property downtown, owns the northern portion of what is known as the “Super Block,” which is bounded by Osceola Avenue, Fort Harrison Avenue, Drew Street and Cleveland Street near the waterfront. Arnold Brown plans to eventually build a mixed-use development on the site to tap into downtown’s revitalization.
“The church has been extremely cooperative, and we have a great working relationship with them,” St. Clair said. “We continue to invest downtown. It is coming to life.”
The church estimates that a daily average of 1,600 students and parishioners will use its new Flag Building once it is completed.
The facility will employ about 1,200 people.
Staubach Co., an international construction management firm founded by football star Roger Staubach, is overseeing the interior design and build out.
Construction documents for the project are in the permitting process, said Lisa Mansell, the church’s downtown liaison.
The church recently hired Hardin Construction Co., an Atlanta-based general contractor with offices in Tampa, to complete the Flag Building, Mansell said.
The long-awaited completion is expected late this year.
The rejuvenated Fort Harrison Hotel is expected to open this spring, Mansell said.
Nova Hotel Renovation & Construction, a company with offices in Florida and California, is the general contractor for the hotel project. About 350 construction workers are employed.
The renovation includes a full resurfacing of the hotel, which was built in 1927. About 100,000 square feet of new carpet are part of the renovation.
Updated electrical and communication systems, three commercial kitchens, two catering kitchens, a poolside bar and a tea lounge are among the renovations.
The hotel also has been brought up to strict standards for hurricane safety, Mansell said.
The church has spent millions of dollars on real estate improvements that benefit the city economically, said Elliott Ross, president of the Ross Realty Group in Clearwater.
Yet the few office buildings downtown struggle to lease space, and some major companies have moved to other areas along major traffic routes, he said.
“It’s not necessarily a business friendly environment downtown,” Ross said. “There are access challenges and not much lodging. It’s been hard to lease there because it’s just not a business core anymore.”
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