Photo: Google Maps
The Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology bought the former Standard Savings & Loan building at the corner of Griswold and Jefferson in downtown Detroit for $3.5 million in 2007 and simply left it vacant.
Now the church has a building permit for $8 million worth of interior and exterior renovations for the 50,000-square-foot structure, reports Kirk Pinho of Crain's Detroit Business.
"The building will house the Church of Scientology of Detroit and is part of the Church's international program to service its parishioners in 'ideal' churches," a spokeswoman tells the publication by Wednesday.
"The church will have a chapel, rooms for parishioners to study the religion and public areas for community meetings and activities."
On Twitter, a Detroiter reacts bluntly:
I'd rather it be vacant. https://t.co/7WABgIZVeJ
— Matthew Lewis (@matthewjlew) July 19, 2017
