Elks decide to sell property to Scientology

By Jeff Mangum, Sun staff writer
Clearwater Sun - January 26, 1983

The Clearwater Elks Club agreed late Tuesday night to sell its downtown headquarters to the Church of Scientology for $240,000, Elks Exalted Ruler Edward Stein said.

The decision to sell the two-story building at 516 Franklin St. came during a two-hour, closed-door session. Members attending the meeting voted 74 to 15 to accept the church's offer, Stein said.

Reportedly, the lodge has about 400 members. Under club rules, Stein said, the sale required approval by at least two-thirds of the members present.

Stein declined to answer reporters' questions about an offer reportedly made by local developer Charles Rutenberg to buy the lodge.

If the sale to the Church of Scientology is approved by a three-member panel of Elks Grand Trustees in Chicago, the lodge will become the eighth parcel purchased by the church in or near downtown Clearwater since 1975.

Church critics castigated Tuesday's decision by the Elks.

"This is simple greed and nothing more," Pinellas County Commissioner Gabriel Cazares said. "I think it is the height of irresponsibility."

Cazares is a former Clearwater mayor and ardent Scientology critic.

Clearwater City Commissioner Paul Hatchett seemed shocked by news of the decision.

"What?" he yelled, when called by a Clearwater Sun reporter after the Elks meeting. "I can't believe what you're telling me! You've just completely floored me.

"I've got to get myself together. You mean to tell me they went for $240,000? I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight."

Mayor Charles LeCher also was surprised by the decision.

"That's hard to believe," he said. "I'm really surprised they would vote to do such a thing. I don't understand, when Charlie Rutenberg offered the same amount of money. I'm really shocked and upset over this."

Arguing it is a religious institution exempt from taxation, the church is appealing a recent ruling by the county that would require the sect pay taxes on the $9.5 million of property it owns in Clearwater.

Church of Scientology spokesman Hugh Wilhere hailed the Elks' decision to sell the lodge, which has been home for the club since 1945. The building sits just east of the church's headquarters at the Fort Harrison Hotel, 210 S. Fort Harrison Ave.

"I'm really pleased, and I believe the sale is going to be mutually beneficial to both organizations," Wilhere said.

Wilhere said the building will be used to provide counseling and classroom space for the 300 to 500 parishioners who reportedly visit the church's Clearwater retreat each week.

Founded in 1954 by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, the Church of Scientology offers counseling, called auditing. The church contends that the counseling frees believers of harmful mental imprints, called "engrams."

Headquartered in Clearwater, the church contends its worldwide followers number 2.5 million. Church officials said they want additional property to accomodate the visitors and the 700 counselors, members and sect employees who live in Clearwater throughout the year.

The Elks property has been up for sale for more than a year, according to club members. The church offered to buy the building in early December for $240,000. According to county records, the property is assessed at $160,000.

Elks members have said privately the club hopes to relocate in the suburban Countryside area of Clearwater within the next six months.

After the Church of Scientology offer was made public, Rutenberg this month offered to buy the Elks property.

There have been reports he was prepared to offer more money than the Church of Scientology.

The Clearwater City Commission voted Jan. 20 to issue Rutenberg's Imperial Construction Co. $600,00 worth of industrial-development bonds to buy and renovate the building.

Industrial bonds issued in the name of a city can be purchased by investors at relatively low rates and without having to pay taxes on interest earned by the bonds.

Neither Rutenberg nor his attorney, Timothy Johnson Jr., could be reached for comment late Tuesday night.