Another cellphone tower disguised as cross nearly finished
UPDATED 12:00 AM EST Dec 15, 2015
Many people might have driven past it without knowing what it really was, and that's the goal.
Cellphone towers are popping up more and more, but not everyone wants one in their backyard. So now, carriers are getting creative -- call it divine service.
Behind the trees, standing roughly 180 feet tall and visible from Interstate 4, there is a white cross that is actually a cellphone tower in disguise.
"People don't want to see the ugly cell phone towers," said Chad Tucker, a contractor with BTO Wireless.
Tucker is a contractor working on the tower. He said he's done at least a half dozen others just like it. Critics argue the public should be told what is really being built.
"I believe it should be public knowledge, but a lot of people don't want to know," Tucker said.
The towers are not new, however. Just a few miles from the Neighborhood Alliance Church on Markham Woods Road is the First Baptist Church in Longwood.
Last month, WESH 2 News covered the controversy surrounding plans to build a 130-foot tower there.
"People love their cellphones and they love great cell coverage, but they don't want to live near a cell tower," said local resident Laura Evelev.
Other churches, like Maitland Presbyterian Church, turned their cellphone towers into bell towers.
Other churches, like Maitland Presbyterian Church, turned their cellphone towers into bell towers.
Neighbors who live across from from the latest cellphone tower said they were surveyed about it six months ago.
"When I thought it was going to be a tree, I wasn't happy about it. But a cross, I think that's fine right there at the church, that's cool," said neighbor Randi Yasika.
"I think it looks good. I think it will help a lot of people with the connection around here," said neighbor Kevin Seedarnee.
The pastor said he signed a 30 to 40-year contract, approved by the county, that could fetch the church anywhere from $1,500 to more than $5,000 per month. He said he plans to use that money on mission work and toward charity.
The pastor also said the original cellphone tower had to be taken down to make way for the I-4 Ultimate expansion. A temporary one is being used until construction wraps up next month.
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