Scientology Sign Gets Makeover

Internationally Known Scientology Sign Gets Makeover: "Los Angeles - More than a thousand Scientologists, their friends and families cheered the lighting of a new state-of-the-art LED sign Friday night atop the Scientology complex on the corner of L. Ron Hubbard Way and Sunset Boulevard.

The updated landmark is three times the size of the previous Scientology sign, which had been in place since the late '70s and is recognized the world over. The new sign is 5.2 tons, 84 feet long, 16 feet tall and can be seen for miles - from several Hollywood and Los Angeles freeways, and indeed by aircraft from far above."

Scientology Expansion

This is a copy and paste of the article linked below.

The building statistics are certainly plausible, as can be seen through the Buildings category of this blog, and the Guinness Book one as well (it's official). The other stats, I am not sure, but if true, it would certainly be a major fail for Scientology critics and Anonymous. I have already posted critics' and Anonymous own statistics: that in spite of their claims, they have not managed to close down a single organization or mission, while in fact these doubled in five years to now reach, if we have to believe that article, 8,071 Scientology Churches, Missions and groups - almost one for each protester in the peak of Anonymous protests of Feb 2008.

Scientology certainly has many cultish aspects and there's certainly much to criticize about it, but the bigoted way Scientology critics and Anonymous go about it only helps Scientology expansion. Just take a look at the comment section of that article - instead of addressing the facts of the article, it's just cries of "cult shill" and "ban Louanelee".

The whole Scientology criticism thing has become so pathetic it hardly is worth spending much time one it anymore. It's over, and the CoS will just quietly continue to expand, ignoring the discredited cries of wolf from critics - until at last some sort of intelligent and credible criticism appears.

All critics manage to do eventually with their cruel and unfounded accusations is to draw a lot of sympathy for Scientologists and a fair amount of interest for Scientology - at least enough to keep on "feeding the beast".

Daily Kos: State of the Nation

Scientology has its expansion statistics out

by louannelee

Share this on Twitter - Scientology has its expansion statistics out

Thu Jul 02, 2009 at 06:20:29 PM PDT

The Church of Scientology International published its 2009 statistics. Notably everything is compared to a five-year-range which might be an odd way of counting, but impressive nevertheless. What do you have to say about it?

• louannelee's diary :: ::
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(Source: Scientology Today)

- The Church’s property holdings internationally have more than doubled in the last 5 years. The combined size of Church premises increased from 5.6 million square feet in 2004 to 11 million square feet in 2009.

- The Church has acquired 66 buildings since 2004 in major population centers around the world. For example: Berlin, New York, Greater Los Angeles area.




- The Church has completed 401,003 square feet of construction of new premises in the last 5 months. It currently has under construction another 475,887 square feet, including Churches in Washington D.C., Las Vegas, Quebec, Mexico City, Brussels, Rome and Tel Aviv.

- There are 8,071 Scientology Churches, Missions and groups in 165 nations, double the number five years ago.

- 80 million L. Ron Hubbard books and lectures on Dianetics and Scientology have been sold in the last decade, compared to 5.6 million in the prior decade, and 60 of that 80 million have been sold in the last two years-more than during the first 50 years of Dianetics and Scientology combined.

- The number of individuals completing auditing and training has doubled since 2007.

- Since the Church undertook to publish and reproduce its scriptural materials in-house in 2007, the average price of Mr. Hubbard’s books and lectures sold has decreased dramatically.

- There were 12.4 million visitors to the Scientology website in the last year alone coming from 234 countries, with 23 million video views.

- 4.5 million pages of L. Ron Hubbard’s writings have been translated in the last 10 years alone compared to a total of 359,459 for the prior 50 years, making him the most translated author in history-according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

- Today there are 196,000 Scientology Volunteer Ministers worldwide-there were 45,000 in 2004. Volunteer Ministers helped over 1.4 million people in the last year alone, a 300% increase over the 2004 figure of 550,000 people helped.

Fort Harrison Hotel $40 Million Renovation Completed

On Feb. 18, 2009, I reported the ongoing renovation work at the Fort Harrison luxury hotel in Clearwater.

Saturday night, the Church of Scientology held a reception, attended by many local bigwigs, to celebrate its reopening.

The CoS says that now that this huge project is completed, they will focus on finishing the "Super Power" building for which they are being fined $250 a day for not bringing it up to code.

Scientology church gives Clearwater's Fort Harrison Hotel a $40M makeover - St. Petersburg Times

"A 12,000-crystal chandelier for the ballroom.

The Church of Scientology is reopening its lavishly renovated Fort Harrison Hotel [...]

Now attention turns to Scientology's enormous building across the street that has sat vacant and unfinished for six years, mystifying the public.

The Flag Building, nicknamed the "Super Power" building, is a seven-story, 380,000-square-foot empty shell that encompasses a whole city block. The church gets fined $250 a day for not bringing it up to code, and the fines now total $245,000.

Numerous promises to finish the building have come and gone, but church officials insist that this time it really is next on their to-do list. [...]

Built in 1927 as Clearwater's first skyscraper, the hotel was a local focal point for decades. [...]

The church has gained greater acceptance over the last 15 years or so, to the point where many local bigwigs felt comfortable attending a reception at the hotel Saturday night. [...]

Now the redesigned lobby opens up to the third floor, where a pedestrian bridge crosses Fort Harrison Avenue to the unfinished Flag Building. [...]

The hotel has three restaurants — none of which will be open to the public, despite what the church previously said. The ballroom won't be rented out for weddings either. [...]

Construction on the Flag Building began in 1999, and it was supposed to open in 2002. Work stopped in 2003 and has been at a standstill ever since. [...]

"We look forward to them getting it complete," said Mayor Frank Hibbard.

In 2006, Clearwater started fining Scientology $250 a day for failing to bring its building up to code. When it's finally finished, the city's code enforcement board will review the fines and decide whether to forgive any.[...]

Scientology's explanation for the unfinished building: It repeatedly redesigned the interior, and it embarked on an international building spree. Recently in Clearwater, it has chosen to work on the Oak Cove and Fort Harrison hotels instead. [...]

The building is nicknamed "Super Power" because it will be the only place in the world where a highly classified Scientology program called Super Power will be offered. Its upper floors will house special equipment that church officials say is designed to heighten one's perceptions. [...]

The Fort Harrison Hotel's renovation will increase Scientology's property tax bill. Two-thirds of the church's property in Clearwater is tax-exempt because it's used for religious purposes, but Scientology's hotels and restaurants are taxed. Last year Scientology was charged nearly $800,000 in taxes on nearly $108 million worth of Pinellas County property. [...]'

Nashville New Building to Be Ready before Summer

On June 29, 2008, I reported on the Church of Scientology Religious Trust having bought the Fall School Business Center on 8th Avenue in Nashville, with the comment from the reporter that "Haynes says it was very important that the historic building be well preserved by its new owners, and looking at other historic buildings purchased by the Church of Scientology around the country, he was convinced there buildings character would remain intact."

On Feb. 17, 2009 I reported about Shallownimous spending their Valentine day in inept protests about the opening of this new location, with the comment from the reporter that "Whatever the Scientologists are up to in there, at least they aren’t the ones standing on street corners, wearing creepy masks and offering cake to strangers."

The article below points to the fact that renovations are under way and opening is expected before summer. However, it also says it will be a "celebrity centre" and not an "ideal org" pointing to the possibility that the CoS may retain it's current building even after the renovation are completed.

The article also mentions criticism from one Todd Lake, who works for a Christian university, and the response by the CoS' representative.

Scientology grows with new center | www.tennessean.com | The Tennessean

"The Church of Scientology is expanding in Nashville, opening what the religion calls a "celebrity centre" at the historic Fall School Business Center on 8th Avenue South and Chestnut Street.

Renovations are under way at the 36,000 square-foot building, with an opening expected before summer" [...]

""It's not worse because it's Scientology, or better because it's Christian," she said. "Who is to say who is better or who's not? The point with the money is what is being done with it. We reinvest in our community."" [...]

Related blog entries: -NashvilleOrg-

L. Ron Hubbar's House Strikes Back

Comments about Hubbard's house story I blogged about last Feb. 5, 2009.

Phoenix News - Feedback from the Issue of Thursday, February 19, 2009 - page 1:

"[...] The L. Ron Hubbard House is just that, a house. Ron Hubbard lived there at one time. There isn't anything hidden or secret about that. Some people (including quite a few neighbors who aren't deranged) have actually enjoyed seeing the house and safely eating some coffee cake. [...]"

Fort Harrison Hotel and Flag Building Renovations

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.”

CoS Behind Schedule on New Montreal Building

The CoS bought the building "La Patrie" in Montreal, Canada, for $CAN 4.25 million in the summer 2007. Initially foreseen to be ready for 2008, the restoration works are still nowhere. They need $CAN 10 million to restore it and are currently still far from this target. The CoS says the current economy crisis is partly to blame. Anonymous claims the failure is due to decreasing and less motivated membership.

In French below.

Violaine Ballivy : Église de scientologie au centre-ville: le projet bat de l'aile | National

Le projet d'expansion de l'Église de scientologie à Montréal a du plomb dans l'aile. Son déménagement au centre-ville, prévu initialement pour 2008, n'aura pas lieu avant la fin de l'année 2010, a appris La Presse.

L'Église de scientologie a vu très gros en se portant acquéreur de l'immeuble La Patrie au coût de 4,25 millions de dollars à l'été 2007. Près de deux ans plus tard, le mouvement n'a pas toujours pas amassé les fonds nécessaires pour lancer les travaux d'aménagement de ce vaste local situé rue Sainte-Catherine Est, en plein centre-ville de Montréal. Les plans de transformation ne sont même pas encore prêts.

«On en est encore aux étapes préliminaires et à la collecte de fonds», confirme le directeur des affaires publiques de l'Église de scientologie de Montréal, Jean Larivière.

«Le projet va nous coûter cher, très cher. On était conscients qu'il y avait beaucoup de travaux à faire, mais l'enthousiasme nous a un peu aveuglés et on fait maintenant face à la réalité», explique M. Larivière.

La transformation de l'édifice La Patrie, ancienne propriété de l'UQAM, en un lieu de culte au goût de l'Église de scientologie nécessiterait des investissements de quelque 10 millions de dollars. Sans préciser la somme amassée à ce jour, M. Larivière note néanmoins qu'il est «très loin du compte».

Le mouvement compte un millier d'adeptes à Montréal. Selon M. Larivière, plusieurs auraient décidé de consacrer cette année leurs contributions à un projet d'expansion semblable qui est en cours à Québec. Il associe aussi ces difficultés financières au ralentissement économique mondial. «Nos membres sont des gens comme les autres. En période d'incertitude, ils veulent garder plus de sous dans leur compte en banque», dit-il.

[...] Mais selon un porte-parole d'Anonymous, une organisation qui manifeste chaque mois devant les locaux actuels de l'Église de scientologie, rue Papineau, ce retard d'au moins deux ans dans les travaux révèle un recul de la ferveur de ses membres. «Ils investissent moins dans le mouvement soit parce qu'ils sont moins nombreux, soit parce qu'ils sont moins convaincus», dit Gaius Baltar.

En plus d'améliorer la visibilité de l'Église de scientologie dans la métropole, son déménagement rue Sainte-Catherine lui permettra de se doter d'une salle d'exposition de 45 000 pieds carrés entièrement dédiée au fondateur du mouvement, en plus d'une chapelle, d'une bibliothèque et de plusieurs salles de cours réservées aux adeptes. La superficie totale de ses locaux triplera.

Scientologists Move in to Nashville

News briefs - News/Features:

"The church of Scientology has purchased a building right off campus – and a group called Anonymous really doesn’t like it. Donning “V for Vendetta” masks and offering cake to passers-by, the group (a national anti-scientology organization) gathered in front of the scientology center to protest this Valentine’s Day, donning masks to prevent retaliation from what they view as a shady, secretive cult. The center is located in the old Falls School business center, a historical building purchased by Scientologists last June for $6 million, which will probably become an “ideal org” – that is, the place from which Nashville scientology will form a “New Civilazation (sic) in Nashville,” to quote their website, nashvilleideal.org. Whatever the Scientologists are up to in there, at least they aren’t the ones standing on street corners, wearing creepy masks and offering cake to strangers."

Related blog entries: -NashvilleOrg-

Fitzroy House

Fitzroy House
"Fitzroy House, 37 Fitzroy Street, London. Fitzrovia dates back to the 18th century and has been for many years well known for its writers and artists. From H.G. Wells and George Orwell, to Charles Dickens and Virginia Woolf - its inhabitants have left an indelible mark. [...] 75 years later, writer and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard made 37 Fitzroy Street his London base. [...] You are welcome to visit Fitzroy House. It is open to the public by appointment daily.

Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard honored
"The House, which has been open since October 2006, has, to date, received guests from almost 50 nations. Visitors have included Ambassadors and businessmen and it has proven an interest to people from all walks of life."

Stunning photos! Have a look...

More on the Kyalami Castle

More about the recently acquired Kyalami Castle from this Scientologist's blog.

Nancy Cartwright Readying $1 Million for the CoS

The Cos gets ready to buy yet another building, and Nancy Cartwright is ready to give $1 million in the process. With 2,200 donors already and $8.7 raised so far, Scientologists surely out-do in a single area the whole money raising effort of Anonymous across the world.


Related Blog Entries: R-NancyCartwright-

Scientology Church Opens in Carytown

Not only Anonymous did not manage to close a single org or mission, as they once were hopeful to when they enthusiastically thought they at last managed to do so, but now even new missions are opening.

Happy Anniversary, Anonymous!

The L. Ron Hubbard Museum

The L. Ron Hubbard Museum has been open as a museum for a few years. It is being hosted in Washington D.C., in the townhouse on 19th Street near Dupont Circle (a block away from the current D.C. Church of Scientology). It is there that LRH held his lectures and is therefore considered as the first-ever Church of Scientology.

CoS adds 5 acres to its presence in Clearwater

In one of its biggest purchases in years, the Church of Scientology has added 5 acres to its already defining downtown Clearwater presence.

Excerpts:

"One parcel is notable in Clearwater history. Rock singer Jim Morrison lived with his grandparents for a year in a little house on the water in the early 1960s while attending St. Petersburg College."

"Scientology now has 29 properties in Clearwater, most downtown."

"South of the just-purchased Triangle property is the seven-story Ocean View condo building, which the church bought in 2006 for $7.8-million. Plans call for remaking the Ocean View, formerly called the Belvedere, into 23 luxury, extended-stay units for visiting Scientologists. Remodeling cost: up to $6-million."

"Just south of the Belvedere and also on the water is Scientology's now-sprawling Sandcastle complex, a mix of hotel rooms and training quarters. Once a small, privately owned tourist hotel, the Sandcastle has been in church hands for decades and expanded many times."

"Now it's overtaxed, officials say, so plans call for a six-story, 60,000 expansion to be built on a vacant lot abutting the recently purchased land."

"Early this year, Scientology opened its latest hotel for visiting church members, the Oak Cove complex on downtown's south side. It offers high-end overnight stays after a $26-million renovation."

"In April, the church also started $30-million in renovations to its well-known Fort Harrison Hotel, which will have 220 rooms."

"In all, current church expansion and remodeling projects will give Scientology 725 guest rooms in downtown Clearwater."

CoS Buys Historic Stevens Building in Portland

The Willamette Portland article also enlighten us about yet another historic building purchased by the CoS, the Stevens Building, bought according to the Portland Business Journal for $5.38 million in cash.

Scientology Increases Its Foothold in Sussex

The Church of Scientology is planning to increase its foothold in Sussex. The controversial organisation, which is not recognised as a religion under British law, paid £3.6 million in October last year for a disused distillery in Manchester and in 2006 opened its £23 million London headquarters in Queen Victoria Street.

CoS Buys Fall School Business Center in Nashville

The Church of Scientology Religious Trust has bought the Fall School Business Center on 8th Avenue in Nashville. The Falls School building was constructed in 1898 as an elementary school, and is on the National Registry of Historical Places. Haynes says it was very important that the historic building be well preserved by its new owners, and looking at other historic buildings purchased by the Church of Scientology around the country, he was convinced there buildings character would remain intact.


Related blog entries: -NashvilleOrg-

CoS Buys La Mesa in San Diego

Church of Scientology Buys 64,000 Square Feet in La Mesa (San Diego) for $9.3M

CoS Aquires South African Landmark

The CoS aquires the United Building in Port Elizabeth, another South African landmark.

CoS Aquires Kyalami Castle

Church of Scientology has acquired the famous Johannesburg landmark, the Kyalami Castle, to be the home of its new advanced spiritual retreat