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Never ones for subtlety, the Church of Scientology wants to install a giant glowing version of their logo on top of a 15-story tall antenna in Los Feliz.
The proposed beacon would be perched at the top of the existing antenna at the historic former KCET studios on Sunset Blvd., now owned by the controversial church . The illuminated sign would feature "a metal emblem and a 'halo' ring of LED lighting," and would be designed by global architecture firm Gensler. The Los Feliz Neighborhood Council will host a hearing with public comment on July 21, after the church requested the issue be delayed last month, according to the Los Feliz Ledger . Not surprisingly, many neighbors are not too excited about the proposed signage.
At a neighborhood council sub-committee hearing on June 3, residents gathered to ask questions about the sign's dimensions, lumens and visibility. Initial designs from the meeting describe the sign as a three sided Scientology logo—which features two triangles intertwined with an "S"—which would be mounted to the tower. The designs also note that "the symbol's face would be finished with bronze vinyl and painted with matching bronze paint. The sign would be illuminated."
All of the attendees who spoke at the meeting were "vehemently against it." After the hearing, the council voted to deny the application for the signage, but the vote is just advisory. According to council president Linda Demmers, the decision was based on grounds that the sign would “change the character of this neighborhood” and “sets a bad precedent.”
Given how easily the church got approval for a street named for founder L. Ron Hubbard and how brightly the sign atop their building on nearby Fountain Ave. shines , it remains to be seen how successful opposition from the neighborhood will be.
