Scientologists Proclaim Downtown Arrival, Welcome ‘Xenu Light?’

By Kevin Collison

For more than a year, the Church of Scientology has been quietly renovating the historic City Bank Building at 1801 Grand into its new regional headquarters.

Few people noticed.

There was nothing posted on the building identifying the new tenant and the project looked pretty much like any other historic rehab job that’s been transforming old downtown office buildings into new uses.

Things got a lot louder this week.

Mounted high above the seven-story building for all the world–at least folks arriving downtown–to see, the Scientologists proclaimed in six-foot letters they’re the new kids on the block.

When CityScene KC Tweeted a photo Tuesday afternoon of the towering sign with the low-key observation: “Well, here’s something new on the downtown skyline,” the Twitter-verse erupted.

Whether the Council members responded to Ms. Mae’s dismay is yet to be determined.

Another commentator had some fun playing off the prominent signs on a couple of other downtown buildings.

Of course, America’s best know Scientologist had to join the party.

Tom agreed.

There also was a quick connection between the Scientologists occupying a major downtown building here and a recent A&E episode of “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath” that looked at the church’s real estate push around the country.

One footnote, the Scientologists bought the building at 1801 Grand more than 10 years ago.

Finally, one Tweeter lamented the new Scientology sign may not become a downtown icon like its neighbor a few blocks south on Grand.

Western Auto it ain’t.