And inside those findings was a plan that Scientology operatives had created and written to establish area control. Internal church documents detailed missions that planted spies in the state attorneys office, the Chamber of Commerce and the Clearwater Sun newspaper. About $15.9 million was paid in cash. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. A sign in front of the business says, "Notice: This is one of the only spas in downtown Clearwater not owned by a Scientologist .". (Guess he hasnt seen the game tapes), US Supreme Court refuses to block Florida execution of Donald Dillbeck, Red-hot USF women close out home schedule with explosive offensive showing, Editorial Cartoons for Thursday from Times Wire Services, Church of Scientologys presence in Pinellas County, Clear Takeover: How Scientology doubled its downtown Clearwater footprint in 3 years, Scientologys 40 years of conflict with Clearwater, recapped, What Clearwaters City Council thinks about Scientologys downtown takeover, Typhoon cancels Clearwaters sister city visit to Nagano. A broker is trying to buy the building Peter and Emily Lares have owned for decades. He called the Tampa Bay Times questions about parishioners activity not just stupid, false and offensive, but un-American., You talk out of both sides of your mouth: If redevelopment is being done by the city or a member of another religion, not Scientology, it is good; if redevelopment is being done by a Scientologist, it is bad, Shaw said. Scientologys international spiritual headquarters is anchored by the Flag Building, on left. We don't know what they're planning to do with the properties. Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in Scientologys government espionage scheme, which sent 11 Scientologists to federal prison. This gallery shows all 60 properties Scientology owns under its name in Pinellas county and six additional retail properties the church acquired through limited liability companies in 2017. In mid-2018, one year before the string of North Marina purchases took off, a company controlled by developer Brian Andrus, a longtime member of Scientology, bought the private marina next to the citys Seminole Boat Ramp. Riley thereafter became a Regional Manager forCB Richard Ellis. We reported at that time that a handful of limited liability companies bought about six downtown properties, and Scientology leader David Miscavige had presented a retail plan to two city staff officials. These workers sign billion year contracts, are paid very little, work around the clock. Ive been waiting for this neighborhood to clean up for 30 years, and I still think its around the corner, Rice said. Mike Rinder, who led the churchs intelligence arm before defecting in 2007, said that when it comes to property around Flag, theres no real distinction between whether its owned by the church or a parishioner. The Church takes seriously its responsibility and interest in the future of the area. 9,523 Scientologists live in the Tampa Bay area. Investigative journalism like this is the most expensive work that we do. I would ask that you clarify the reference to CBRE. By then, the churchs intelligence unit was already deploying an elaborate scheme to establish area control in the city. After the City Council voted to buy the lot in April 2017, Miscavige refused to talk to city officials for the next two and a half years. To reiterate our earlier point, Ozsan, Gregori And Company LLC has only two client accounts. DEUTERIUM INVESTMENT ADVISORS LIMITED Over the past two years, the properties surrounding the shop have been sold to Scientologist-controlled companies. Recommend. In the world of scientologywhere anything goes and all laws in the wog world by damnedits Christmas 24/7. But its potential is still untapped, with prime vacant land overlooking Clearwater Harbor. In San Diego, Taylor Guitars and Deering Banjo Company. (Everything owned by parishioner-run companies is still on the tax rolls. The church attracts members through a theology of self improvement and understanding. Former parishioners say the church has a history of interfering in Scientologists downtown business. Sep 19, 2022 - Anonymous Employee in Clearwater, FL. Gentile also purchased several Clearwater companies owned by Scientologists who may have invested the proceeds into land deals. Do I spend another 10 years and see what happens in downtown Clearwater?, Scientology, Pinellas County and Clearwater Reporter. Andrus involvement in Scientology goes back decades and includes his participation in a plan during the 1970s to stop a church member who had spied on the federal government from turning himself in to the FBI. Graphics by ELI MURRAY She said, Well, well have to invite you down for dinner, he recalled. They now own most commercial property. Unrestrained 5-year-old child falls out of truck, run over in Tampa, troopers say, Hundreds of USF students join statewide walkout to protest DeSantis education policies, Rays Shane McClanahan already hitting upper 90s nice to see, Estimates vary widely on cost to expand school vouchers in Florida, Food company A Good Human is opening a vegan cooking school in St. Petersburg, Bucs new coordinator is confident! Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has bought 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name: 58 are in the city of Clearwater and 49 are downtown. Help us keep bringing stories like this to you. Times reporters built a database of hundreds of properties in the center of Clearwaters downtown. #4 Best Company In Clearwater Company Description: Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Clearwater, Fla., Senior Home Care is a privately held company operating nearly 50 branch locations with 1,800 employees through its Senior Home Care offices in Florida and Synergy Home Care offices in Louisiana. Riley is also working with Gensler on the development. EMPIRICAL PROSPECTING COMPANY LIMITED. My true love gave to me/Three French hens/Two turtle doves/And a partridge in a pear tree). This makes no sense, except of course to a bigot.. Copyright 2023 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved. A broker who was a Scientologist approached a downtown property owner. More interesting is that the 15 parcels of land Riley plans acquire in Clearwater are owned by Scientologists. After the Times reported the purchases, Miscavige acknowledged the properties were bought for a second revitalization strategy one devised by the church. In January and February 2017, a handful of limited liability companies bought six prime downtown parcels. It is all so convenient for Rodney that it appears to be scripted. Epstein declined to name his client but responded to questions from the Times with an affidavit declaring it was not the Church of Scientology. In 2017 the church acquired six downtown Clearwater retail properties through limited liability companies. Searcy felt like hed created a canvas for a dream hotel, condo and retail project: near the bridge to Clearwater Beach, no height restrictions, all under $5 million. Cons. Fuster and Ozsan go back a long way to Altea Real Property Ltd. in London. Half the properties were bought since January 2017. It appears that Project Normandy is still operational. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Just out of curiosity, when you say the tactics that they used in the '70s, what were those? Today, 10 years later, the economic influence of Scientologists in the community is commensurately higher. The Church of Scientology has done many things at a remove or by a ruse, feint, or stratagem. 1. When the city was considering buying the aquariums lot, Miscavige threatened to stop communicating until the 2020 election, when term limits would force most of the council out of office. I mean, how big is the Church of Scientology where you are? Both are supposed to open soon. Argall left the church and was forced to abandon his business of more than 20 years. Mayor George Cretekos listens at a City Council meeting in April 2017 as residents pushed the council to purchase a vacant lot that Scientology also wanted. Block after block, vacant lots sit untouched, and storefronts remain empty: A former jewelry store. Those six lots were bought in November 2020 by a limited liability company then-managed by an employee of CA South, a Nashville-based real estate firm founded by Megan Epstein and advised by her husband, Stephen Epstein, both members of Scientology. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email along with 7129 other subscribers. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Who are they buying from, and how much were they offering? His partner is Scientologist Maria Dolores Gregori Fuster. Scientology Fines OTs $100,000 if They Talk About Xenu or Body Thetans! Companies controlled by Hayes have bought about half the property on Rices block and nearly the entire block directly south. Epstein could have simply told the reporter his client was not the Church of Scientology and left it at that. He publicly asked why there were security cards with billy clubs and mace on the roof. New details about the case of Lisa McPherson, who died in the care of Scientologists, from the executive who directed the Church of Scientologys handling of the case. It was a very turbulent time. Local TV station WTSP reports. Spa not owned by a Scientologist. City officials have long hoped for private investors to transform the North Marina Area, a 13-block district with undeveloped lots and 100-year-old bungalows overlooking Clearwater Harbor. He told Fischler that before Scientology bought the Fort Harrison Hotel in 1975 he worked there as a busboy. Even city leaders said they didnt know the full extent of the purchases until they were shown maps created by the Times. Sponsored by HomeIPO.org Is it possible to get money (maybe $50k) without a loan? And yes, everyone that works here is asked to keep politics and religion out . In private meetings with council members, the Scientology leader described a plan for high-end shops, Cleveland Street facade renovations and an entertainment complex involving actor Tom Cruise, Scientologys most famous parishioner. More reaction: What Clearwaters City Council thinks about Scientologys downtown takeover, The full history: Scientologys 40 years of conflict with the City of Clearwater, recapped, Slideshow: See every building owned by the church, Scientologys 40 years of conflict with Clearwater, recapped, See a slideshow of all the churchs buildings. They envisioned apartment buildings with ground-floor stores, winding paths with views of the Intracoastal Waterway and a concert venue that would draw visitors from across the region. But the couple isnt ready to let go. There are 22 Church of Scientology facilities in downtown Clearwater. GARCIA-NAVARRO: And we reached out to the Church of Scientology about the Tampa Bay Times report. If you are looking for a career where your coworkers and leadership care about you and your success, AMI is the right place! Fifty-eight are in the city of Clearwater and 49 are downtown.. It set aside $10 million for secret real estate purchases in Clearwater. I would assume hes a Scientologist or involved with them in some fashion. His wife, parishioner and real estate agent, Terri Novitsky, represented the buyer in many of the deals, according to interviews with sellers. Fair Game: Leah Remini & Mike Rinders Podcast, The Aftermath Foundation: Help for Those Who Want to Leave the Sea Org, Scientologys Membership Contract Goes Down in Flames in Court, Chris Shelton's Sensibly Speaking Podcast, Dr. Steven Hassan's Freedom of Mind Resource Center, Stefani Hutchison's Confront & Shatter Blog, The Aftermath Foundation: Helping Those Who Have Left the Sea Org, More Scientologists Getting Into Crypto: Alfreddie Johnson and Karilyn Youngman-Trammell and Their Solar Gold Cryptocurrency, More Grant Cardone Fraud: His Plan for Businesses to Use Credit Cards to Pay for Cardone Sales Training and then Declare Bankruptcy, Church of Scientology International(158), Scientology Fair Game: Cult Leader David Miscavige Orders Attacks on Marc Headley and His Business, US Federal Prosecutor Now Investigating Retired LAPD Cop & Scientology Pal Captain Cory Palka for Corruption, Subpoena-Evader and Thug Life Scientology Leader David Miscavige Served a Subpoena by a US Federal Court on Valentines Day 2023, Scientologist David Gentile Goes Down in Flames in the Pretrial Phase of His US Federal Criminal Case. Businesses without ties to the church are moving into a few of those. Accuracy and availability may vary. I had to make a decision, Bosi said. ARKWRIGHT ROAD LIMITED It has terrorized defectors with private investigators, smear campaigns and relentless litigation. Its designed not for recruiting new members but for hosting established followers. Additional Clearwater real estate purchases began in 2019. Buy up as much property as they can for the church whether they use it or not, whether they let it sit there and rot so no one else can be there.. Scientologists from across the globe make pilgrimages to the campus, called Flag. Clearwater A newspaper report says the Church of Scientology and companies run by its members spent more than $100 million over the past three years buying up huge sections of downtown. What's more, the Times found a Scientology magazine from the 1990s that listed goals for the new millennium. All rights reserved. The pattern of Scientology-tied companies buying so many properties and sitting on them flies in the face of most land economics, said Tobias, who has been appraising property in Pinellas County for 50 years. It met his criteria: It was located in a warm climate near an international airport and had a hotel the Sea Org could turn into a base. It would be the same if I was a (proud) Christian, Jew, or Muslim. Scientologists living in Clearwater span the gamut of professional life . City officials are trying to make the area a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. On Sept. 7, Epsteins employee was removed from the corporate filings of the company that own the land. Moreover, tens of thousands of Scientologists travel to the city each year from around the world to participate in religious services at the Church's spiritual home. It teaches that expanding Scientology is key to saving the world, then wields a system of totalitarian policies to keep parishioners in line. 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