LOS FELIZ—The Church of Scientology is seeking to hang a large LED sign depicting their logo on top of a 15-story-tall antenna, and local residents are voicing their concerns.

The sign would sit atop the antenna housed by the former KCET studios building on Sunset Boulevard. On June 3, residents met with a subcommittee of the Los Feliz Neighborhood Council to discuss the dimensions, lumens and visibility of the proposed sign. Twelve residents spoke before the council and expressed opposition. The council then made the motion to deny the church’s application to hang the sign, based on the prediction that it will “change the character of this neighborhood” and “sets a bad precedent,” according to LFNC President Linda Demmers.

BUG_Scientology
The Church of Scientology logo, which will be illuminated in the proposed sign.

The departments of Building and Safety and City Planning already approved the signage earlier this year, but recommended the LFNC get more feedback from the public. A public hearing was originally set for June 16, but was delayed at the church’s request.

The proposed signage is likely related to the church’s plans to expand their network.

In April 2011, the Church of Scientology purchased the building from KCET.  The church has plans to turn the space into a global media center called Scientology Media Productions. In a press release posted on their website on January 1, the church explained that the center “will revolutionize the Church’s communications footprint throughout the print, broadcast, and internet media worlds as a state-of-the-art hub helping beam Scientology’s message all over the globe.”  The building is just a few blocks down from the Scientology west coast headquarters, Pacific Area Command Base on Fountain Avenue.

The rescheduled hearing is set to occur on July 21 during a LFNC governing board meeting. The meeting will be held at the Citibank Community Meeting Room located at 1965 N. Hillhurst Avenue in Los Angeles. There will be a period of public comment immediately after the meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.