http://www.religionnewsblog.com/news.php?p=7898&c=1
Scientologists now own more than 200 shops, restaurants, service outlets and small businesses in and around Clearwater's downtown..Clearwater membership stands at 687, more than triple what it was five years ago.
More growth is coming. Scientologists will open twice as many businesses in the next five years, Reichel predicts. As many as 900 condos and townhouses are to be developed downtown, mostly by Scientologists.
A group of Scientologists from Mexico plans a project that could bring hundreds of condos to prime downtown property bought last year for $9.8-million.
Just two blocks away, a Scientologist will break ground this summer on a 146-unit, 15-story condo tower. Church members also will build dozens of townhomes downtown.
And it's taking root alongside the numerous high-profile properties of the expansion-minded Church of Scientology, which since 1976 has made Clearwater its worldwide spiritual headquarters.
Already the largest property owner downtown, the church next year will open its $50-million Flag Building, sitting on a full city block across from the church's Clearwater icon, the Fort Harrison Hotel.
After 28 years, Scientologists are on the brink of creating what amounts to a Scientology city in Clearwater's downtown core.