Citizens press council over proposed sale of Garden Avenue right‑of‑way to Church of Scientology; council discussion continues

City staff presented a proposal on March 31 to declare a vacated portion of Garden Avenue (Garden Street) surplus and to sell it to the Church of Scientology for $1,375,000; the item prompted extended public comment and a detailed council discussion but no final sale vote at the March 31 meetings.

Public commenters asked how the deal was negotiated and whether the public and council had adequate notice. Jill Gibbs and Kelly (identified on the record as a 17‑year Clearwater resident and leader of the Pinellas Biblical Citizens Task Force) spoke during the CRA public comment period, raising concerns about transparency, public access to the vacated right‑of‑way, the Church of Scientology's past activities in Clearwater and whether the proposed vacation would remove space that planning documents identify as part of multimodal or public access plans.

What staff presented

- Tom Mahoney, Public Works: staff asked the council to declare the vacated portion of Garden Street surplus and presented a purchase offer for $1,375,000. The proposed sale would preserve easements for city utilities; staff said necessary easements to cover utilities would be retained by the city.

Council and agency concerns

Councilmembers said they had recently met with Church of Scientology representatives and described "robust" and candid conversations. Several councilmembers said they sought written commitments on public activation and access, but that the buyer had declined to provide certain guarantees. Councilmember comments included requests for clarity about whether the right‑of‑way will remain publicly accessible and concern that some council members learned of the proposed transaction only weeks before votes were expected.

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) staff also participated in the discussion. Darden Rice (PSTA chief planning and community affairs officer) and Devin Deal (PSTA planner) told council that closing the street would affect bus routing and recommended signalization changes — notably a signal at Pierce Street and Myrtle Avenue (near City Hall) — to maintain connectivity to the planned intermodal transit center. PSTA said routing changes could substitute for Garden Avenue access but that signalization would be an important mitigation step; responsibility for signal costs was not resolved at the March 31 discussion.

Outcome and next steps

The garden‑avenue sale was presented to the council and CRA trustees for consideration; the transcript does not record a final council approval on March 31. Councilmembers said they would revisit the item at an upcoming council meeting (scheduled discussion on Thursday) and requested additional written details and clarifications from staff and from PSTA on operational impacts and signalization costs. The sale price and the city's retention of utility easements were recorded in the staff presentation.

Ending

Staff will return with requested clarifications; councilmembers asked staff to seek written activation commitments and to provide cost estimates for traffic mitigation options before a final decision is scheduled.