Bradenton officials backtrack to allow controversial church to occupy 14th Street West building

BRADENTON -- Bradenton officials on Feb. 3 recanted a Jan. 13 vote to deny a special use application for religious assembly at the former Kiwanis building at 2102 14th Street West. The city council voted to approve the application to allow the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God to begin operating as a place of worship.

The church is not without controversy. It was founded in 1977 by Brazilian media magnate Edir Macedo, who began the church in a Rio de Janeiro funeral home. Since that time, he is a self-appointed bishop at the head of a church that has helped make him a billionaire. The home church in Brazil now features a 10,000 seat church that cost $300 million to construct that includes a private helicopter pad for Macedo.

According to Bloomberg Business, Universal Church specializes in prosperity theology, which links faith to financial success. Macedo himself preaches from time to time and his typical sermon is the intersection of God and money. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index records his wealth at $1.2 billion. Although most of his wealth is tied to his media empire, in 2011, Macedo recorded $1.1 billion from the church, which he requires to buy up to six hours of airtime each day.

While the church is located in more than 200 countries with seven in Florida, the Bradenton branch now beginning operations has about 40 parishioners. The city council voted to deny the application in January based on a lack of information about the church's intentions. Because the

building is zoned public assembly, the council could not deny the church based solely on religious speculation without potentially violating federal law.

However, yet another church on 14th Street West is contrary to the city's overall vision for the corridor. Property owner Vincent Crisci purchased the 6,600 square foot building from the Kiwanis in 2013 for $275,000. He has been marketing the building for a restaurant or other similar business since the purchase, but to no avail.

"For about three years, I've been buying abandoned properties in Bradenton," said Crisci. "The thing I've been trying to do is look at the neighborhood and say there is a vacant building that's been neglected and I can do something with. But the problem with a vacant building is that it deteriorates quickly and homeless begin moving in. These buildings are like dying bodies, and my goal is to find a way to put blood back in the body."

Crisci said the only interest he has received in the building has come from financially unqualified churches and an adult book store. He is unfamiliar with the Universal Church's history, but said it was the only church that qualified with available financing. Given the wealth behind the church and that it holds sermons seven days a week while adhering to a strict 10 percent tithing requirement, its financial viability isn't a surprise.

As part of the special use application approval, the church agreed to a stipulation that it will not feed, house, clothe or otherwise assist the homeless, as well as not allowing homeless to congregate. The city has designated areas for assisting the homeless and doesn't want to see that expand into areas targeted for specific redevelopment purposes. Ward 1 City Councilman Gene Gallo said the city is not anti-homeless, however.

"What we are is a board of directors that provides services to the citizens," he said. "We have a vision for 14th to pick up economic development to make it a tax base paying avenue and also to have new life come in that will spread."

Crisci, as a landlord, will continue to pay taxes on the property, which are in excess of $6,000 a year. Crisci said he just wants a tenant in place to stabilize the building and is open to finding a new tenant in the future when the market dictates that kind of redevelopment opportunity.

Ward 4 Councilman Bemis Smith said Bradenton has done more for the homeless "in the southern Tampa Bay region than any other city has. Anybody that accuses this city of failing on the homeless is going to be falling short on that argument."

Mark Young, Herald urban affairs reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7041 or follow him on Twitter @urbanmark2014.

This story was originally published February 7, 2016 at 11:52 PM with the headline "Bradenton officials backtrack to allow controversial church to occupy 14th Street West building ."