Please consider supporting us with a tax-deductible donation to the Tampa Bay Times Investigative Fund. 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. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Explain to me why the paper has a Scientology reporter. Audited NOTs (NOT stands for NED [New Era Dianetics] Operating Thetan) ! The church requires followers to shun family members, friends and business contacts who defy it. Agami also signed two more leases on the same block with restaurants owned by people not connected to the church. Theyve got one intention, and one intention only, De Vocht said. Did you do your taxes? And he was going to recruit high-end retail to some of the empty storefronts because downtown Clearwater's pretty depressed. And it's all surrounding the city's downtown waterfront. 21 day forecast key west, florida. The most recent deal came when a New York firm bought a former demolition yard on Nicholson Street for $593,400 on Oct. 20 and then flipped it two days later for $1 million in cash to one of the Scientology-tied limited liability companies, according to property records. Then,. Once we dug into the data and pulled records, we found that LLCs tied to the Church of Scientology had bought about 100 properties. ^ ??? The DeNunzio Group is affiliated with Maine Course Hospitality Group, which owns and operates 24 hotels in five states. ), [ Slideshow: See every building owned by the church ], In the 90s, a Scientology magazine listed the churchs goals for 2000. The main reason why developers didnt want it was they didnt want to be near the Church of Scientology, Searcy said. Big Brother is a character and symbol that represents a society where every citizen is under constant surveillance, constantly reminded of this by the slogan "Big . Main Menu Members have to answer to their ethics officer for any act of disloyalty to Scientologys mission. 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. The Church told DailyMail.com: 'The Times article is simply the latest in its continuing and unending obsession with Scientology and is little more than self-serving propaganda intended to give the appearance of objective reporting without reporting the actual facts to the reader.'. Police were quick to respond. Facebook That has led defectors from the church and city leaders to believe there is little chance parishioners are making significant real estate deals around Scientologys mecca without the churchs involvement. During spiritual counseling, parishioners are interrogated about their deepest secrets, which are recorded in folders and stored indefinitely. '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 added. Businesses without ties to the church are moving into a few of those. And it's also basically the financial nucleus of the entire organization. Did you do your taxes? MCMANUS: Scientology arrived in downtown Clearwater in 1975. Most religions have a fundamentalist wing, Rinder said. 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. MCMANUS: Yeah, that's a good question. Do I spend another 10 years and see what happens in downtown Clearwater?, Scientology, Pinellas County and Clearwater Reporter. (Which, actually, all Scientologists are under pressure to do. 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We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Epstein declined to name his client but responded to questions from the Times with an affidavit declaring it was not the Church of Scientology. When you stay with us at the Sleep Inn Clearwater-St Petersburg hotel, you can expect stylish accommodations for an affordable rate. Tom Cruise, a devout follower of Scientology, has been effectively 'homeless' since he put his homes in California and New York on the marketearning GBP 41.5million ($55 million) in the process. Although I find Clearwater to be fairly safe, it has more crime than Naples. how to create a signature in outlook 365; hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater. The church offered $15 million for the parcel. Hes still holding out. I'm glad you brought this up! Over the past two years, the properties surrounding the shop have been sold to Scientologist-controlled companies. The church stopped communicating with the city. 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. GARCIA-NAVARRO: It's the type of servitude. Jim Huestler is the blocks only holdout with a rental home on the northeast corner. The most notable one is that of Lisa McPherson. Letsgetstarted. Scientology is all I have to say, There are no pros that unless you are a Scientologist. As a Designed to Dream property, we've created a relaxing environment so that you can start your day well-rested. Answer (1 of 12): Openly, they tend to congregate around the area of downtown where they work and own most of the real estate. The companies paid a combined $11.8 million in cash for 28 undeveloped parcels, five empty commercial buildings and a dozen homes in the district, most of them dilapidated. He walked away with nothing. After FBI raids uncovered the infiltrations, city officials launched their own investigations. I saw a business opportunity, Ezra said. In six cases, buyers made four times the propertys value deemed by the county property appraiser. Mike Rinder, who led Scientologys intelligence arm before defecting in 2007, said any property owned by a parishioner is in the churchs control. Many of the properties werent on the market. Richard Tobias, an independent real estate appraiser in Pinellas County, said vast purchases of downtown real estate by entities tied to Scientology have cast confusion over the market. William Faulkner, "The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual's own reason and critical analysis." 0. warrants st martin parish. We own a tremendous amount of material and so forth, and it keeps growing. The reason lies in rising tensions between the church and the Clearwater City Council. 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. 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. church of 8 wheels closing; forest fair village shopping mall; 10Jun. However, it hasnt always been clear to me as to just what does that actually mean.. 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. The Fort Harrison Hotel serves as the flagship building of the Flag Land Base, the Church of Scientology 's spiritual headquarters in Clearwater, Florida, US. 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. GARCIA-NAVARRO: And we reached out to the Church of Scientology about the Tampa Bay Times report. The Fort Harrison Hotel is located in Clearwater, Florida, and besides being an exclusive Scientology hotel, it is a high-level training center and the church's spiritual headquarters. Through a spokesperson, Epstein said in an email that CA South looked into developing the properties on behalf of a client but walked away when the city did not relax a rule prohibiting a parking lot level facing North Fort Harrison Avenue. City officials plan to partner with a developer on ways to adapt the red brick schoolhouse, like turning it into a hub for restaurants, retail, or apartments. The churchs hostility toward the public became clear from its first days in the city in fall 1975. If people all over the world would do this, it would change the earth." A broker who was a Scientologist approached a downtown property owner. DeSantis vetoed a $1M Day of Service program that was worth so much more | Column, DeSantis calls for open market to compete with Advanced Placement, Supreme Court weighs Biden student loan plan worth billions, Maple Leafs: Lightning, other division rivals did not spur deal, The youngest Grand Prix of St. Petersburg driver? Flag is run by the churchs full-time workforce, the Sea Org, whose members sign billion-year contracts and work around the clock. Scientology boasts 10million followers, but surveys and accounts from former members suggest there are no more than 30,000 worldwide. Conspiracy theories are nothing new when it comes to the Church of Scientology. Real estate agent David Kerr represented a buyer that paid more than three times what a property was valued by the county property appraiser. There comes a time when silence is betrayal. - Martin Luther King Jr. Communication is the universal solvent - L Ron Hubbard, When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon. Thomas Paine, "Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. 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. In those cases, four or more parcels purchased together clearly comprised a single piece of real estate. Ron DeSantis on Monday undid a looming $1.2 billion tax hike on Central Florida residents that he inadvertently imposed a year ago in a hastily passed bill meant to punish Walt Disney Co. for criticizing his so-called "Don't Say Gay" law. There are 22 Church of Scientology facilities in downtown Clearwater. The Tampa Bay Times reported that the church, including members and employees, now own 185 properties that encompass more than 101 acres in downtown Clearwater, located west of Tampa and sitting. Thank you guys , Hello Mike, during the live chat you mentioned your first encounter with Mark Bunker back in the LMT years. Tampa Bay Times reporter Tracey McManus has spent the last four years writing about Scientology and the churchs relationship with the city of Clearwater. They were very secretive, he said. When the council voted to buy the property, the chamber erupted in applause. Times Staff WritersOct. L Ron Hubbard From HCOPL URGENT ORG PROGRAMMING, "We own a tremendous amount of property. She reported full-time for six months, interviewing more than 90 people and reviewing more than 1,000 documents, to bring you this story. Andrus did not respond to an email, phone message, a note left at his office or a certified letter. Hubbard had a vision of making Clearwater a spiritual home for his Church of Scientology. Lares and his wife, Emily, sold the diner inside a decade ago. They started hosting concerts on the waterfront that now draw thousands. But Scientologist-controlled companies are also sitting on at least 26 vacant lots and 31 empty storefronts and offices. In Clearwater, Fla., there's been a quiet series of land purchases over the last three years, $103 million worth made by the Church of Scientology and its parishioners - a doubling of the church's footprint near its international headquarters. But far more non-Scientologists are moving out. You have well connected, https://m.facebook.com/jobs/job-opening/332924608432320/, Scientology a cult of lies scientology a cult of lies, https://www.mikerindersblog.org/scientology-businesses-in-clearwater/, Dealing With Scientology Critics - L Ron Hubbard Playbook, Buzzazz Business Solutions (Keanan Kintzel), Consumer Sales Solutions (Tom Cummins and Jim Bridgeforth), MGE Management Experts (Luis Colon, Greg Winteregg), Nelson Construction and Renovations (Gregory Nelson), NTC Nationwide Title Clearing (John Hillman, Todd Kugler, Norm Novitsky), Root Cause Medical Clinic (Rick and Vikki Petersen), Ted McGrath Brands (Jasmin Napier daughter-in-law of Mike Napier), The Tub Guy (Randy and Molly Baxter, she is the former CO FOLO EUS), Silkin Management Group (located in Portland OR), USA Tree Service LLC (Jim and Karen Kettner). and last updated 7:53 PM, Oct 21, 2019. In 2016, city consultants began planning what has become a $64 million effort to reinvigorate the waterfront called Imagine Clearwater. They also pointed to the latest edition of their Freedom magazine for what they called an accurate portrayal of the church and its members in Clearwater. The 1.4 acre lot was across the street from City Hall and adjacent to a 13-story Scientology religious retreat. The majority of this property now stands vacant, and given the Church's tax exempt status, has limitless potential for development. How Boris Johnson's Partygate tormentor Sue Gray is now enmeshed in her own row - as it is DAN HODGES: This grubby Sue Gray recruitment annihilates all pretence that Sir Keir Starmer is a man of 'He was a natural leader': Mourners gather for the funeral of Thai cave survivor who died aged 17 after 'You'll be missed forever': Elizabeth Hurley and son Damian share heartfelt tribute to her late ex Shane Mamma Mia! Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. AND it is NOT in a Flood Zone! Walking through Clearwater people will find vacant lots, an empty former jewelry store, an dead laundromat and an abandoned Walgreens. Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in Scientologys government espionage scheme, which sent 11 Scientologists to federal prison. Among other things, Ozsan is, according to our source, Trish Duggan's money manager. Scientology proposed a major redevelopment project meant to lure in new business to the empty stores in the citys waterfront area and near the churchs headquarters, but the council interfered, botching plans for a land deal that the church wanted for its expansion plan. Scientologys extraordinary influence over its members has been documented in government investigations and testimony from former parishioners throughout its 65-year history. Five unexpected signs in your 20s and 30s you're at risk of developing heart disease later in life. The goal was to capture the area immediately surrounding both Scientologys headquarters, City Hall and the city-owned waterfront. Accuracy and availability may vary. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. Companies tied to the Church of Scientology paid millions in cash for 45 properties near downtown with no major plans in sight. You have some buyers here that their motivations are not really clear, he said, so its tough to make economic sense out of it.. 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. Just make more income with Scientology. View Hotel. It's not clear how many followers are based in Clearwater. Fischler did not respond to phone messages, a certified letter or a note left at her condo. Trump congratulates Justin Trudeau on winning a second term Three soldiers died when their tank fell off a bridge into a Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, TN residents say Jack Daniel's distillery spews black mold, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' $500,000 USD: Your Dream Florida Home with heated Pool is within Reach! Karl Heinz Riedl, ("Chef Karl"), is the co-owner of Bon Appetit Group. No one from the church dictates to me what to buy, what to sell, what to do.. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. But even when the church isnt in control, its presence can deter development. By then, he had found an auto garage he could buy in Dunedin. Internal church documents detailed missions that planted spies in the state attorneys office, the Chamber of Commerce and the Clearwater Sun newspaper. L Ron Hubbard Lecture 31 Dec 1960, "Personal integrity is knowing what you know. Agami, the developer whose family gave $10 million, leased a storefront to a non-Scientologist that has become a successful restaurant since opening in 2017. And Clearwater is home to one of the Church's most important bases, a campus called Flag, which established Scientologists from across the globe make pilgrimages to. So we kept our eye on the downtown purchases. It does not include properties recently bought by companies run by church members. He took over Bob Lees Auto to continue the business legacy and served on the Downtown Development Board for a decade. Thats not happening with almost any of these properties. After the Times reported the purchases, Miscavige acknowledged the properties were bought for a second revitalization strategy one devised by the church. Fischler, a local real estate agent, negotiated at least 10 of the downtown deals, according to interviews with sellers. In six cases, buyers paid quadruple the propertys value. In interviews, sellers said most of the transactions unfolded the same way. Share. Clearwater is the permanent home to more than 10,000 Scientology parishioners. He had committed to downtown in 1997. Log in, If the org slumps during this transition period, don't engage in "fund raising" Even as Scientologys footprint expanded, and nearby Clearwater Beach became one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States, downtown businesses struggled to stay open. I had to make a decision, Bosi said. hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater dr thomas horn wikipedia. I believe its irrational to buy property and not fully utilize it.. But on days with no events, downtown feels deserted. Wayne E. Lee ran his Auto Parts Distributors business on Park Street since 1982. Hotel in Clearwater. City officials are trying to make the area a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. During that period, downtown purchases by limited liability companies managed by members of Scientology accelerated. The controversial church first landed in Clearwater in 1975 with one hotel property to its name, but the organization had elaborate plans to spread its reach across the entire downtown area. Each had proposed major redevelopment projects, designed to lure new business into the empty storefronts that surround the city-owned waterfront and the churchs spiritual headquarters. Some of the parishioners have a history of working on Scientologys behalf. Asked directly whether Scientology orchestrated or paid for any of the sales, the church did not answer. 325 . I dont mix my personal business with other areas in my life, said Terri Novitsky, a Scientologist who manages a company that bought two office buildings on Chestnut Street in 2017. On Sept. 7, Epsteins employee was removed from the corporate filings of the company that own the land. They have control over what businesses, if any, come in. Scientology in Clearwater Big Brother is Watching You. We don't know what they're planning to do with the properties. The Church of Scientology provided the following statement to DailyMail.com: 'The Times article is simply the latest in its continuing and unending obsession with Scientology and is little more than self-serving propaganda intended to give the appearance of objective reporting without reporting the actual facts to the reader. The Church of Scientology and its parishioners now own a lot of real estate in Clearwater, Fla., as reported by the Tampa Bay Times. Typically, when people buy commercial real estate, they move forward with construction or redevelopment. They paid $26 million. He saw the area improve when police cracked down on drugs and prostitution decades ago. Llmenos para una consulta. The Tampa Bay Times discovered them by reviewing more than 1,000 deeds and business records, then interviewed more than 90 people to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding the transactions. 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. His wife, parishioner and real estate agent, Terri Novitsky, represented the buyer in many of the deals, according to interviews with sellers. These are the companies and names on this list (put into alphabetical order, I also added what are probably the largest scientology owned businesses in the area KnowB4, NTC, Consumer Sales Solutions and Energy Professionals: Axiom Bahia Property Management (Raul Aleman) Blue Streak Docs (Sam Gendusa) Buzzazz Business Solutions (Keanan Kintzel) Whether you're traveling with friends, family, or even pets, Vrbo vacation homes have the best amenities for hanging out with the people that matter most, including swimming pools and air conditioning. 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. Stu Sjouwerman is defying the trend for Scientologists in the past year. Not so shipshape! GARCIA-NAVARRO: Just out of curiosity, when you say the tactics that they used in the '70s, what were those? Why does this matter? This Gulfport 14-year-old, The death of Dilbert and the art vs. the artist | Letters. Rice said hes been surprised that he has not been approached by brokers trying to buy his 10,000-square-foot building. Boca Raton, FL . Paid in cash. CLEARWATER, Fla. In this small beachside community sits a 1.4-acre patch of dirt that has become a flash point in a fight between church and state. Both have been there for decades. A deserted coin laundry. The city has no record yet of redevelopment plans being submitted for any of the North Marina properties since the purchases began, according to planning and development director Gina Clayton. He wanted the council to stop trying to buy a vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. (SOUNDBITE OF CHICK COREA'S "RETURN TO FOREVER"). CONNIE HUMBURG, TRACEY McMANUS, ELI MURRAY, ELI ZHANG | Times. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler brokered at least 10 downtown sales on behalf of seven buyers. This one is owned by a parishioner who had been featured on the churchs Meet a Scientologist video series. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has purchased 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name. Brokers who are Scientologists approached at least 15 downtown owners about unlisted properties. Toni Says: What is Medicares creditable prescription drug coverage? I thought this person was a cult member immediately . GARCIA-NAVARRO: What do you mean billion year contracts? 307 S Myrtle Ave Frnt, Clearwater, FL 33756-5524 +1 727-446-3354 Website Menu. But companies controlled by different parishioners bought neighboring properties that create clear assemblages of land. Florida Hotels and Places to Stay. But,so far, there have been only 4 comments posted to, It was fantastic stream! Thank you very much. The church, its members and companies they control now own 185 properties that cover 101 acres in the center of downtown. I agree, the blog has a limited purpose, Super excellent, really great chemistry, so enjoyable to watch. I, Scientology cant clear the planet or fix every issue. I think it's comparable to say it's kind of, like, if there were to be a Vatican reporter in Vatican City. Businesses might see this city project and say, yeah, let me take a chance on downtown and open up a business. the organization's members was that of 36-year-old Lisa McPherson while in the care of Scientologists at the Scientology-owned Fort Harrison Hotel, in Clearwater, Florida, in . Church of Scientology campus in Clearwater, Fla. mokee81/iStock The Church of Scientology, its members and companies controlled by its members have spent $103 million over the past three. Nearly two years after the properties were sold to a company run by two Scientologists, no redevelopment plans have been submitted. The lack of action from Scientology-tied buyers has precedent. When will the Beast from the East be at YOUR door? GARCIA-NAVARRO: That's Tracey McManus, who reports on Scientology for the Tampa Bay Times, talking about the church's increased real estate footprint in Clearwater, Fla. About 72 percent of those properties are tax exempt for religious uses. It is owned and operated by the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, Inc., a subsidiary of the Church of Scientology International . Save. They include consumer products, a lighting manufacturer, development firms, fitness, advertising and marketing, environmental services and financial advisers. Suspicion swirled. Zano did not respond to questions about what his plans for the properties. Nearly all of the properties were bought through limited liability companies, which are required to disclose their operators but not their owners. Aaron Smith-Levin, a former Sea Org member, said a church ethics officer in 1993 pressured Smith-Levins father-in-law to sell Scientology a downtown property it wanted for expansion. Dalai Lama. None of the other parishioners whose companies bought property since 2017 responded to questions about their plans. June 9, 2022. Then, the . CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) 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 Clearwater. Scientology came to downtown Clearwater in 1975. The most widely publicized death of one of the organization's members was that of 36-year-old Lisa McPherson while in the care of Scientologists at the Scientology-owned Fort Harrison Hotel, in Clearwater, Florida, in 1995.. What religion is Scientology similar to? Welcome. Weve spent a lot of happy years here, Lares said. Operatives framed the mayor in a staged hit-and-run and spread false rumors he was having an extramarital affair. That's the findings of a story in the Tampa Bay Times that's headlined clear takeover. That point is brought home in an editorial ('One Community, Many Good People' ) in the new edition of our Freedom Magazine. They didnt say what they were going to do with them, and I never asked, said Chesney, who works as the citys marine and aviation department director. Gulf Coast Marine and ClearwaterPlumbing. 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. Many of their properties weren't listed for sale. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. All five City Council members said they doubted the rash of purchases were unrelated. MCMANUS: Right - because the city officials have said that there's only so many factors they control. An elevated walkway connects the building to the Fort Harrison Hotel, the churchs first purchase in the city in 1975. 'The logical conclusion is Scientology must have some sort of a game plan in mind, but theyre not public with what it is,' City Council member Hoyt Hamilton said. Real estate agent Brian Andrus controls seven properties bought around the citys public boat ramp. In a letter, the church said the Times is misinterpreting Scientology policy and that other religions also practice shunning. Former parishioners say the church has a history of interfering in Scientologists downtown business. Trending; . After negotiations, Kerrs company paid Yarbrough $1.1 million in cash for the lots, then valued by Pinellas County at $331,000. Construction on eight townhomes on the south end of the marina began Oct. 1, according to county records. In just three years, starting with a frantic land grab in January 2017, Scientology doubled its footprint in the city.
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