The Church of Scientology in Clearwater hosted its groundbreaking ceremony Saturday for L. Ron Hubbard Hall, an auditorium and plaza on South Garden Avenue named after the Scientology founder. More than 7,000 people attended, including Scientologists from 72 nations, according to the Cleveland Street Alliance, and the ceremony featured fireworks, musical performances, and a speech by David Miscavige, ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion.
The venue is meant to serve as a global broadcast center for the church’s international events, along with community-wide cultural performances, educational programs, and civic gatherings, according to a spokesperson for Cleveland Street Alliance.
L. Ron Hubbard Hall has been a topic of public debate for nearly two years, since Scientologists first applied to take over a stretch of property in downtown Clearwater in 2025. The Clearwater City Council approved giving away the street to the Church of Scientology on June 4, after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier vouched for the church in December; South Garden Avenue spans more than 286,300 square feet across the entire city block.
Many Clearwater locals oppose the project because it uses such a large portion of South Garden Avenue, and one man is filing a lawsuit arguing that it would transfer control from all city residents to the Church of Scientology. “We are in the process of filing a declaratory action because really the issue that we see is who is the rightful owner of this piece of property,” said Jose Estigarribia, an attorney for Becker who represents
