The Church of Scientology is hoping to establish a new religious center in the South Loop but first must overcome zoning challenges and neighborhood concerns.

The church has already purchased property at 650 S. Clark St., but has been unable to obtain a permit to develop the building, which is currently zoned as DX-12, a downtown mixed-use district.

The church is asking to change the zoning classification to DX-10, which is a residential-use zoning, that would allow them to go ahead with the new center without obtaining a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals, which has been denied to them in the past.

About 40 South Loop residents attended a community meeting, held at Grace Place, 637 S. Dearborn St. , on Jan. 27 to discuss the proposed zoning changes.

Alderman Robert Fioretti (2nd Ward) and church representatives were also in attendance to answer the residents’ questions and concerns, which ranged from parking issues to worries about aggressive solicitation by church members near the proposed religious center.

Another area of concern was that allowing the property to be used by the church would not generate any tax income for the ward. Like other religious institutions, the Church of Scientology is considered to be a nonprofit organization and is exempt from paying taxes. In the South Loop, there are several colleges and educational institutions, like Columbia and DePaul University, that are also tax-exempt. Some residents expressed they would like to see the building used by a tax-paying entity instead.

The church has taken steps to address parking concerns, said Tom Smith of Duncan Associates, a civil engineering consulting firm working with the church on the project. They plan to lease 100 parking spaces in a lot behind the proposed religious center.

Smith also said the church’s presence in the neighborhood would be a benefit for the community, would restore an otherwise decaying building and bring visitors to the area.

Additionally, the building’s refurbishing would be environmentally friendly by using many recycled and sustainable materials and incorporating a “green roof” on 25 percent of the building’s roof. Smith said the church would not seek LEED certification because of extra costs.

Many of the concerns raised among residents at the meeting went beyond the usual parking and logistical issues and reflected a certain amount of skepticism and suspicion about the Church of Scientology and its activities.

“Do you want to come into a neighborhood that doesn’t want you?” asked Susan Rice, a South Loop resident, during the meeting.

Others said they feel the church is not a legitimate religious organization, but rather a profit-generating operation.

“The Church of Scientology is a business-not a church,” said South Loop resident Carlyn Leeper. “It shouldn’t get any tax exemptions.”

Similar sentiments were represented outside the meeting where, despite the frigid temperature, a group of about 10 protesters from the Internet-based group Anonymous gathered.

The protesters covered their faces with scarves and masks to protect their identities because Scientologists attack their critics, they said. The protesters held signs bearing slogans like “Honk against Scientology” and “Religion is free: Scientology isn’t.”

The only protester willing to identify himself was Eric Szulczewski, who said he had a personal reason for opposing the church’s move to the South Loop.

“I happen to suffer from type 2 bipolar disorder,” Szulczewski said. “Scientology has a policy of treating psychology as something akin to demonic worship. They believe that psychiatry is an evil that must be eliminated from the world.”

Psychiatry and psychiatric medication have greatly improved the quality of his life, Szulczewski said, but if it were up to the Church of Scientology those treatments would not exist or be recognized.

But Lynn Ward, a South Loop resident and a member of the church, said the church will be a good neighbor. He said Scientologists tend to be engaged members of the community who will try to fix the things they see problems with.

“When we see a nail in the street, we pick it up instead of letting some poor sucker run over it,” Ward said. “I think the area is going to be a safer and happier place once we get in.”

South Loop resident and church member David Newberger said that in this struggling economy, the building would probably sit vacant and fall into disrepair if the church had not purchased it.

“There is no developer who is going to pick [that building] up. It would just crumble,” Newberger said. “The church has tremendous examples in cities throughout the world of taking distressed properties and restoring them to their original grandeur, and this is the case here.”

Newberger went on to say Scientologists have nothing to hide and that there is nothing mysterious about the religion.

“Anyone who wants to come into our church is welcome,” Newberger said. “They will be welcome to come in and learn about Scientology and understand the precepts we follow and understand that we are just here to help.”

Fioretti will decide whether or not he will support the church’s zoning request. He has given no timetable for making his decision.