Scientologists Pay Taxes, Ready Partial Demolition

The Church of Scientology has paid local taxes for the first time in 14 years for a vacant former furniture store in Westville Village — and is now looking to demolish part of that neglected property as part of a long-delayed renovation.

According to the city’s tax bill website, the state branch of the Church of Scientology paid the city $39,871.18 on July 24 for real estate taxes it owed for 949 Whalley Ave.

That represents the first half of the church’s local tax bill for the two-story former Hallock’s building; the next half, also worth $39,871.18, is due Jan. 1.

As the Independent reported earlier this summer, this marks the first time since July 1, 2010 that the City of New Haven has sent the church a property tax bill for 949 Whalley. The church bought that property for $1.5 million in 2003, and has never followed through on plans to convert it into a place of worship.

In February, Acting City Tax Assessor Alex Pullen returned the property to the tax rolls on the grounds that ​“the property is not being used for a tax-exempt purpose” and that there is​“no construction under progress” at 949 Whalley. Thus the sent — and paid — July tax bill.

(Scientology — a modern international religion founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, popularized by Hollywood celebrities like Tom Cruise and John Travolta, and sharply criticized by investigative journalists like Lawrence Wright — has a long and bitter history of successful fights with the tax man.)

According to recent filings with the building and city plan departments, however, construction, or at least demolition, may soon be coming to the church-owned building.

On April 19, the church filed with the city an ​“exploratory demolition package” for 949 Whalley.

That six-page document states that the building was originally constructed as a Masonic Temple in 1930, and has an addition that dates back to the 1950s. It was then used for two decades as a furniture warehouse and showroom, and has sat vacant for the past nearly 20 years.

“The original wood grand stair in the 1930 Masonic Temple is to be repaired and restored,” the church’s demolition package narrative reads. ​“Some salvaged decorative elements will be repurposed within the new layout. Most of the interiors will be demolished due to water damage. The existing exterior entrance stairs will be removed and rebuilt in total.”

It also states that the 1950s addition ​“has no decorative elements to retain” and there is ​“extensive water damage throughout the space.”

This ​“select exploratory demolition” is designed to ​“uncover specific areas for structural analysis, further informing the extent of the primary demolition scope of work,” the narrative concludes.

Then, on Aug. 8, the church filed with the City Plan Department a notice of intent to demolish part of 949 Whalley. Local law requires a 90-day delay of demolition, as 949 Whalley is listed as a contributing property within a National Register Historic District.

“Portions of the building are proposed to be removed/demolished including windows, front steps/landing, non-historic building addition on the western side of the property,” that notice reads in part.

It continues: ​“The building is slated for renovation to be occupied by the Church of Scientology of Connecticut. To ensure safe occupancy, specific remediations are required. Additionally, to complete the renovations, it is necessary to restore deteriorating building elements to maintain the historical aesthetics that contribute to the National Register Historic District.”

A Church of Scientology representative did not respond to a request for comment by the publication time of this article about the timeline for the proposed demolition work. A church representative did tell the Independent in July that the church’s planned restoration work of 949 Whalley will ultimately include​“repairing all cracks, repointing the exterior façade, and ensuring all exterior doors and windows integrate with the historic building,” as well as ​“reinforcing the structure of the building.”