The church also targeted the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Justice and scores of foreign governments. GARCIA-NAVARRO: What do you mean billion year contracts? Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has purchased 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name. Operatives framed the mayor in a staged hit-and-run and spread false rumors he was having an extramarital affair. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has bought 60 . Many of their properties weren't listed for sale. About 72 percent of those properties are tax exempt for religious uses. 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. The spa's website makes it clear that, "In fact, we are, by definition, a Christian based business.". Businesses might see this city project and say, yeah, let me take a chance on downtown and open up a business. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. MCMANUS: Well, our reporting shows that Scientology has a big interest in preserving its downtown campus. I think it throws a stake in it when one party owns 50 percent or so. Church officials used a straw corporation to buy the historic Fort Harrison Hotel and moved in under a fake name. Over the past two years, the properties surrounding the shop have been sold to Scientologist-controlled companies. In Florida, limited liability companies that buy property are required to disclose administrative operators but not their owners. DEUTERIUM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED All rights reserved. A uniformed member of Scientologys full-time work force, the Sea Org, walks along N Fort Harrison Avenue, passing a vacant restaurant. After the Times reported the purchases, Miscavige acknowledged the properties were bought for a second revitalization strategy one devised by the church. It was owned by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. (SOUNDBITE OF CHICK COREA'S "RETURN TO FOREVER"). It appears that Project Normandy is still operational. Almost immediately, a decades-long trickle of purchases by church members turned into a flood. Many of the properties werent on the market. Florida executes Donald Dillbeck for 1990 Tallahassee murder, Held without charge, a Miami inmates unborn child asks court for release in odd case, One step led Tampa runner, Gasparilla entrant to big weight loss, huge life gains, Hillsborough must right-size its school system | Editorial, companies tied to Scientology bought 100 properties, Winter the dolphin died of twisted intestines, necropsy report confirms. Good luck on that. 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. And yes, everyone that works here is asked to keep politics and religion out . 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. The Imagine Clearwater project aims to transform the city-owned waterfront into a vibrant park with gardens, a concert green, a walkway with views of the Intracoastal Waterway and mixed-use projects. TRACEY MCMANUS: Hi, Lulu. Fifty-eight are in the city of Clearwater and 49 are downtown.. They came in under a fake name to buy the Fort Harrison Hotel, a historic hotel right in the center of downtown. Clearwater is the center of that revenue stream. Scientology members fuel another land-buying surge in Clearwater Companies tied to the Church of Scientology paid millions in cash for 45 properties near downtown with no major plans in. Some landlords tied to Scientology have helped bring life to portions of downtown. Write by: . Thats a factor we do not control, Delk said. There is no discrimination for or against *any* religion. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Who are they buying from, and how much were they offering? Melitta electrics and accessories are manufactured, marketed and distributed under a licensing agreement. The Church of Scientology, its members and companies controlled by its members have spent $103 million over the past three years buying retail property in downtown Clearwater, Fla., according to the Tampa Bay Times. 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. They now own most commercial property on every block within walking distance of the waterfront, putting the secretive church firmly in control of the areas future. Howd that go? This one is owned by a parishioner who had been featured on the churchs Meet a Scientologist video series. About $15.9 million was paid in cash. Fischler offered Bosi $1.4 million, almost three times what the property was valued. His wife, parishioner and real estate agent, Terri Novitsky, represented the buyer in many of the deals, according to interviews with sellers. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Church was unaware of the significant number of properties owned by Scientologists in the Clearwater area and are delighted you provided the information, the letter continued. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email along with 7129 other subscribers. After FBI raids uncovered the infiltrations, city officials launched their own investigations. Sep 19, 2022 - Anonymous Employee in Clearwater, FL. Flag is what they call it, and it's the international spiritual headquarters of the church. synergy rv transport pay rate; stephen randolph todd. Our opinion is that Riley was instructed to get ahead of the story by bringing up Scientology before he was asked about it. Epstein could have simply told the reporter his client was not the Church of Scientology and left it at that. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler brokered at least 10 downtown sales on behalf of seven buyers. Fifty-eight are in the city of Clearwater and 49 are downtown. In her November 2021 article on Scientologists buying land in Clearwater, Tracey McManus wrote (emphasis ours): The city received an informal inquiry last year related to vacant land at the southeast corner of Seminole Street and North Fort Harrison Avenue. There is nothing unnatural about Scientologists wanting to live in the same city that houses the international spiritual headquarters of their church, said a letter signed by Scientology attorney Gary Soter. Real estate offices, vitamin shops and vacant storefronts fill prime locations that in a more vibrant downtown might hold breweries, restaurants and boutiques. The church promised to spend $55 million. 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. Reporters analyzed thousands of rows of data and pulled more than 1,000 records from the Pinellas County Property Appraiser, the Pinellas County Clerk of Court and the Florida Division of Corporations. Although that arrangement is standard in real estate, it makes it impossible to know whether the properties are owned by the Scientologists who manage the companies, the wealthy church or another hidden party. Concerned he wouldnt be able to pay his mortgage, Argall said he deeded the building, appraised at $780,000, back to the previous owner. 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. In a letter, the church said the Times is misinterpreting Scientology policy and that other religions also practice shunning. But the couple isnt ready to let go. We don't know if they're just going to continue to squat on them - because they haven't done anything yet. Gentile also purchased several Clearwater companies owned by Scientologists who may have invested the proceeds into land deals. My sister is always struggling with money and drugs: I own a house with my husband and mother. Rod Riley has no background in Scientology. Fifty-three of those are for properties owned by companies run by himself with fellow Scientologist Emrani, a candidate in this election. They posted guards wielding billy clubs and mace. The campus collects millions each week through fundraising and payments for expensive courses and high-level religious counseling not offered anywhere else. But the aquarium rejected his bid in order to sell it to the city for $4.25 million. Be informed that their owners are local Scientologists who support the abuses of Scientology leader David Miscavige. All they did was act like children and make crude sex/homophobic/racial jokes about being raped, gangbanged, etc. Thirteen were existing tenants when he bought the properties. Instead, Epstein took the formal step of using an affidavit to deny that the Church of Scientology is not the client. Real estate agent Brian Andrus controls seven properties bought around the citys public boat ramp. Scientologist normally dont deal with outsiders in my experience. The analysis considered property within the general boundaries of Cedar Street to the north, Missouri Avenue to the east, Chestnut Street to the south and the Intracoastal Waterway to the west. The acquisitions mirror the pattern that unfolded downtown between 2017 and 2019, when companies tied to Scientology bought 100 properties within walking distance of the waterfront and the churchs international spiritual headquarters, then left many of those buildings vacant and lots undeveloped. The Florida Secretary of States record on Rod Rileys RST Capital Advisors LLC: Categories: Clearwater, Osman Ozsan, Trish Duggan, Tagged as: CA South Development, Clearwater Marina District, David Gentile, DEUTERIUM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, DEUTERIUM INVESTMENT ADVISORS LIMITED, Gary Soter, Gregori And Company LLC, Maria Dolores Gregori Fuster, Megan Epstein, Osman Ozsan, Ozsan, RSR Capital Advisors LLC, Stephen Epstein, Tampa Bay Times, Tracey McManus, Trish Duggan, Re: The companies paid a combined $11.8 million in cash for 28 undeveloped parcels, five empty commercial buildings and a dozen homes, When I read that, I couldnt help but be reminded of the English Christmas carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas (On the third day of Christmas/ The purchases totaled $11.8 million and were documented by the Tampa Bay Times in its November 2021 story: companies connected to the Church of Scientology are buying tracts of land within the 55-acre district and not disclosing what they plan to do with them. I would ask that you clarify the reference to CBRE. [1] CBRE is an acronym for CB Richard Ellis. A Scientology Based Company in Clearwater tried to Hire me and lie to me (VIDEO) So I just moved down to the clearwater area and I'm new to knowing that this is the "mecca" for scientology programs. Made an offer. The church has shed no light on its plans. The Times also contacted representatives of all 32 companies it identified that bought downtown real estate over the past three years. The church offered $15 million for the parcel. Osman Ozsan is, in our opinion, one of the more notable Scientologists youve never heard of. To reiterate our earlier point, Ozsan, Gregori And Company LLC has only two client accounts. The only record of redevelopment that has occurred among the 45 properties is a roof replacement on a vacant building on North Fort Harrison Avenue and internal demolition in a former flooring center two blocks north, according to notices in Pinellas County records. Any property owned by a Scientologist or linked to a Scientologist is owned by the church, because the church owns its parishioners, said De Vocht, the former executive in charge of real estate, who reported directly to Miscavige. During spiritual counseling, parishioners are interrogated about their deepest secrets, which are recorded in folders and stored indefinitely. Internal church documents detailed missions that planted spies in the state attorneys office, the Chamber of Commerce and the Clearwater Sun newspaper. Originally founded in 1955, we are the oldest Scientology Church in Australia. It does not include properties recently bought by companies run by church members. Riley had no reason to mention that he had worked with Mormons and will now work to communicate with the Scientologists in Clearwater. This reads like deliberately premanufactured PR to us. The Tampa Bay Times reports that members of the church have spent $103 million on property in the city of Clearwater known as "The first Scientology city" since . In a letter to the Times, the church denied it ever tried to take control of the city. By then, he had found an auto garage he could buy in Dunedin. After the Times reported the purchases, Miscavige met with city officials and acknowledged the church acquired them as part of his plan to spend $55 million renovating downtown buildings and recruiting high-end retail to empty store fronts. However, it hasnt always been clear to me as to just what does that actually mean.. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Explain to me why the paper has a Scientology reporter. Then walk down Cleveland Street downtowns main artery. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It teaches that expanding Scientology is key to saving the world, then wields a system of totalitarian policies to keep parishioners in line. The Church of Scientology and companies run by its members spent $103 million over the past three years buying up vast sections of downtown Clearwater. However, this tactic can backfire when it comes across as answering a question no one has asked. 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. Fuster and Ozsan go back a long way to Altea Real Property Ltd. in London. The Church of Scientology, its members and companies controlled by its members have spent $103 million over the past three years buying retail property in downtown Clearwater, Fla., according. Disloyalty has life-changing consequences. ), 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. The churchs campus grew slowly over decades. Reached at their condo, his wife declined to comment. Non-Scientologists who get too close are a threat to the operation, said Mat Pesch, who spent 27 years in the Sea Org and worked as Flags treasury secretary before defecting in 2005. Its a business, Pesch said. Sponsored by HomeIPO.org Is it possible to get money (maybe $50k) without a loan? GARCIA-NAVARRO: And I guess the larger concern is that this could really thwart the city's plans for redevelopment if the Scientologist organizations are going to have all this property that they're going to keep for their own purposes. Another tell. The lack of action from Scientology-tied buyers has precedent. Hes still holding out. 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. Riley is also working with Gensler on the development. In September, Andrus completed construction there on Marina Bay 880, two towers that hug the marina with 87 luxury condos and amenities like an Olympic-sized pool and sauna. This is a story for another time. Brian Andrus controls companies that last year bought a marina on N Osceola Avenue and six nearby properties, all bordering a redevelopment project at the citys public boat ramp. In addition to a park and amphitheater, Imagine Clearwater also calls for several new projects on the waterfront with residences and retail. Recommend. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. But in the 70s, Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in Scientologys government espionage scheme, which sent 11 Scientologists to federal prison. Right now, at least 30 businesses owned by non-parishioners are renting from Scientologists. Since 2017, the Church of Scientology and companies run by its members have bought 92 properties around the center of downtown. 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