Scientology admits in planning docs it expects only 6 walk-ins daily at new facility

 
We have a great new report from our man Graham in England…

On a recent visit to Manchester we swung by the former Duckworth’s Essence Distillery, Scientology’s long neglected Ideal Org-to-be, to take a few photos. As a bonus we found public notices attached to lamp-posts pointing us in the direction of their current planning applications. Having scoped out the neighbourhood and dived quite deeply into a mass of over 170 documents, I’m going to summarise as follows…

It’s a beautiful building and I’m very impressed with Scientology’s plans for it. They must already have spent a small fortune just on planning and if they follow through they’ll have done the building proud. A pity then that the area’s so grotty. Ultimately a building’s only as good as its surroundings and this one is set in an urban wilderness. Opposite is a decent row of terraced houses all converted into offices, but to the rear it’s all dereliction and fly tipped rubbish. Unlike Birmingham, this one is not set in the leafy suburbs, and when Scientology finally turns the lights out there are unlikely to be any serious buyers.

And oh the irony of Scientology being forced to comply with disability legislation and supply disabled parking spaces and wheelchair access to the building.

To answer the most urgent question: When and where will Dave be doing his rope yank? Well not any time soon it would seem. Plans have been granted for a temporary breach to the rear wall, to allow heavy vehicles onto the site during renovations, and Scientology reckons this will be needed for “up to 18 months” from February 2019. And given the scale of the work involved this seems realistic, so we could be looking at 2021 for the grand opening. As to where, I reckon Dave will get his photo op and be allowed to yank his rope in front of that magnificent facade. The road in front is wide and no longer a main thoroughfare, having been by-passed by a nearby dual carriageway. My photo was taken on a busy week-day and as you can see it’s almost traffic-free, so I doubt there would be problems getting a temporary closure for the inauguration of a religious building.

Respected independent consultants Curtins were brought in to assess the traffic impact and parking needs. They chose to use Scientology’s Birmingham Org as a comparator, asking Scientology for estimates of traffic based on actual usage, then backing this up with a week long survey of their own at the gates of Pitmaston House. Comparing results, Curtins felt Scientology’s figures were realistic, and here they are!

“The total number of people attending the church for religious purposes is 143. This is an average of 20 a day… People would arrive either for 9am, 1pm or 7pm.” People walking in because of an interest in finding out about Scientology is estimated at “less than 6 per day.” In addition, 50 volunteer staff working 9 to 6, with a further group of 50 working 6.30 to 10.30 week-days, with only the day shift being covered at week-ends. With Manchester having a smaller car park they add that for special events (“generally attracting 100-200 people”) mini-buses would bring people in from nearby public pay-and-display car-parks.

This paints a bizarre picture of 100 staff per day serving the needs of 20 parishioners and a maximum of 6 walk-ins. Overall these are tiny figures for Pitmaston House’s impressive 3,741 sq m. floor space. Yet here in Manchester they are anticipating similar numbers for a building that’s a massive 27 percent larger at 5,135 sq m. I wonder what fellow Bunkerites make of these figures?

Front view (The smaller building to the right has been converted into apartments).

Signs of neglect everywhere when you look up close (Fine red brick from Ruabon in North Wales).

A road to the front with little traffic, and certainly no body-routing potential.

To the rear Dave’s inherited some world class protective fencing. Plans are to rip down the external fire escapes and replace with architect designed enclosed stairwells.

The rear car park. The plans show that the low building to the right of the fire escape will include some residential accommodation (A caretaker’s flat?).

Every other plot to the rear is in a state of abandonment.

— Graham

 
Those numbers are definitely eye-opening, and compare favorably with traffic-impact reports we’ve seen in the past.

Paul Burkhart pointed out on his episode of ‘Aftermath’ that Scientology is paying something like $15 to $20 million on each of these cathedrals, and yet they admit that in Manchester they’re expecting only about 6 walk-ins a day? (And that’s pure fantasy, of course. The true number will be closer to zero.)

Great work, Graham!

 
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HowdyCon 2019 in Los Angeles

This year’s HowdyCon is in Los Angeles. People tend to come in starting on Thursday, and that evening we will have a casual get-together at a watering hole. We have something in mind, but for now we’re not giving out information about it.

Friday night we will be having an event in a theater (like we did on Saturday night last year in Chicago). There will not be a charge to attend this event, but if you want to attend, you need to RSVP with your proprietor at tonyo94 AT gmail.

On Saturday, we are joining forces with Janis Gillham Grady, who is having a reunion in honor of the late Bill Franks. Originally, we thought this event might take place in Riverside, but instead it’s in the Los Angeles area. If you wish to attend the reunion, you will need to RSVP with Janis (janisgrady AT gmail), and there will be a small contribution she’s asking for in order to help cover her costs.

HOTEL: Janis tells us she’s worked out a deal with Hampton Inn and Suites, at 7501 North Glenoaks Blvd, Burbank, (818) 768-1106. We have a $159 nightly rate for June 19 to 22.

 
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!

Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology buys another derelict building in order to pretend that it’s expanding wildly
[TWO years ago] You tell us: What’s the current condition of the Church of Scientology?
[THREE years ago] Brian Sheen continues to fight Scientology’s ‘disconnection’ in unique and unusual ways
[FOUR years ago] Scientology leader David Miscavige had private eyes watching his father, say police
[FIVE years ago] Mike Bennitt shares with us a creepy e-mail he received after filming Scientology events
[SIX years ago] An Interview with Brandon Ogborn About His Play, The TomKat Project
[SEVEN years ago] Marty Rathbun is Big in the U.K., Still Waiting for Major U.S. Treatment
[NINE years ago] Aaron Saxton, Scientology Enforcer, Stops By For a Chat

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 8, 2019 at 07:00

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