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Goodwill plan meets opposition

A work-release program is proposed at a U.S. 19 site. Neighbors bristle at the suggestion.

By LORRI HELFAND, Times Staff Writer
Published December 16, 2007

Goodwill wants to buy this Church of Scientology property on U.S. 19. It's listed for $6-million.
	[Joseph Garnett, Jr. | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Joseph Garnett, Jr. | Times] Bill Morrow, left, of Donovan's Park Cooperative, and John Barous of Bicycle Express voice their opposition to the plan.

A longtime dormitory for Church of Scientology staffers will become the site of a work-release program for more than 200 nonviolent inmates if Goodwill Industries-Suncoast buys the property near East Bay Drive and U.S. 19.

But that's a big if, said Goodwill spokeswoman Michael Ann Harvey.

"As the minutes tick by and days tick by, more problems are occurring with the condition of the building and what it would require financially for Goodwill to bring it up to requirements," Harvey said.

Goodwill has a contract from the state Department of Corrections to provide a residential re-entry and substance abuse program.

The church wants to sell the site, which it bought more than 25 years ago, to consolidate operations in its downtown Clearwater properties, said Scientology spokeswoman Pat Harney.

About 200 church families who lived at the U.S. 19 property, a former Quality Inn in unincorporated Pinellas County, have relocated to Sherwood Gardens, which the church bought in 1999.

Meanwhile, rumors about the purchase are swirling and several mobile home park residents and property owners say they don't like the idea of such a program nearby.

"It's absolutely crazy. We have enough problems with kids stealing stuff out of here anyway," said Dan O'Connor, 65, manager of Embassy Mobile Home Park. "Most of our residents are in their 70s. They don't need a bunch of crackheads there."

"It's killing the value of the property," said D.A. Holt, 78, who owns property north of the proposed center and about 10 acres in the area.

The 3-acre church site, assessed at $3.06-million for tax purposes, is listed for $6-million. A 3-acre property north of the church land also is involved in the deal, Harvey said.

John Barous, who owns Bicycle Express south of the church property, said he intended to sell his property as part of a group of parcels that included Scientology's property. But he recently learned his property wasn't in the mix.

Since then, he has contacted many of his neighbors to organize opposition. He said the program would compromise the safety of nearby residents and lower property values.

"It's a good program, but it doesn't belong here," Barous, 48, said.

Barous' property is now listed on a commercial real estate Web site for about $1.6-million.

Thursday, Barous spoke to about 75 residents of three nearby mobile home parks, with one adjacent to the church property. He and Donovan's Mobile Home Park president Bill Morrow urged residents to call and e-mail local and state officials.

The church's property is zoned C2, a designation that allows congregate care facilities. That means no zoning change would be required for a work-release program because it conforms with that classification, said Paul Cassel, the county's director of development review services.

Barous called the proposed sale a "back-door deal" because the plan wouldn't require a public hearing.

But Goodwill's spokeswoman said the nonprofit intended to speak with neighbors and address their concerns once it knew it was closing on the property. Harvey said Goodwill won't be sure until mid January.

She said the program would benefit the community, not degrade it.

"It's something the community needs to embrace. With drug offenses growing, there has to be a place were individuals can recover and get their lives back on track and become upstanding members of the community," Harvey said.

Goodwill has similar long-standing programs in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, Harvey said. Participants mostly have drug offenses and are nonviolent, she said.

"They will not be milling about the grounds. They will all be busy and gainfully employed," she said.

Meanwhile, Scientology plans to move forward with renovations in downtown Clearwater, the church's worldwide spiritual headquarters, Harney said.

Scientology is planning a $20-million upgrade of the Fort Harrison Hotel, which offers counseling and lodging for visiting Scientologists.

Early next year, the church plans to transfer operations from the Fort Harrison to the 13-story former Oak Cove residential building.

Lorri Helfand can be reached at lorri@sptimes.com or 445-4155.

[Last modified December 15, 2007, 21:00:50]