The hotel has 11 stories and features 220 rooms, three restaurants, a swimming pool and a . 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. Andrus helped carry out a plan to stop a Scientologist who had spied on the federal government from turning himself in to the FBI. Sep 19, 2022 - Anonymous Employee in Clearwater, FL. Most did not respond or declined to comment. Typically, when people buy commercial real estate, they move forward with construction or redevelopment. I saw a business opportunity, Ezra said. This means the total revenue of the "300" scientology businesses that are owned by the 9700 local scientologists is equivalent to 7.5 average car dealers. This purchase was part of Project Normandy, a covert Scientology program to take over Clearwater. Norm Novitsky hung up when asked by a reporter about the companies plans. In an interview with Scientology-owned "Freedom Magazine" Gendusa said that she moved to Clearwater to study Scientology more than 25 years ago. How Riley made the jump from a regional Coldwell Banker slot in Arizona to suddenly handling a proposed $350 million Clearwater Marina District development is certainly interesting and raises questions we are looking into. Scientology Fines OTs $100,000 if They Talk About Xenu or Body Thetans! MCMANUS: Right - because the city officials have said that there's only so many factors they control. The Florida Secretary of State records show the firm went dormant in 2012. Ive been waiting for this neighborhood to clean up for 30 years, and I still think its around the corner, Rice said. businesses owned by scientologistsdoes keegan allen have a child 26th February 2023 / in west warwick viewpoint / by / in west warwick viewpoint / by 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. There is ZERO chance of me getting sucked in. It has to be somebody with the money to invest in a real estate development deal. 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. Huestler said broker Terri Novitsky calls him every now and again to see if hed be interested in selling. Taking into account these denials, we now have a new opinion to offer our readers. And the properties cover about 100 acres. (On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Times reported that since 2017, companies run by members of Scientology bought another 86 downtown commercial properties. Flag is run by the churchs full-time workforce, the Sea Org, whose members sign billion-year contracts and work around the clock. Both the Church of Scientology and GPB Capital denied it. According to court records, Andrus accompanied two guards as they handcuffed and gagged the man, dragged him into a car and drove him to a hideout, where he was held for a month before escaping. Gensler does all the architectural work for Scientologys Ideal Orgs. Welcome. More interesting is that the 15 parcels of land Riley plans acquire in Clearwater are owned by Scientologists. The church also targeted the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Justice and scores of foreign governments. 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.. Looking at the Times map of the new ownership, City Council member David Allbritton recalled a moment from 2017 that now seems telling. MCMANUS: Yeah, I think that the key here is the uncertainty. The church requires followers to shun family members, friends and business contacts who defy it. Tracey McManus is a Scientology reporter for the paper, and she joins us now. Theres no such thing in Scientology. Sponsored by HomeIPO.org Is it possible to get money (maybe $50k) without a loan? Its important for me to communicate with the Scientologists in Clearwater and have that ability to work side-by-side, Riley said, also noting he is now based in Clearwater. To reiterate our earlier point, Ozsan, Gregori And Company LLC has only two client accounts. As a general rule, when someone makes an unsolicited statement, as Riley did by mentioning Mormons and Scientologists, it suggests to us hidden connections. Thank you for having us. Whats more, the Times found a Scientology magazine from the 1990s that listed goals for the new millennium. Columnist Stephanie Hayes will share thoughts, feelings and funny business with you every Monday. In response to detailed memos summarizing the reporting, the church criticized the Times for portraying its members as mindless robots and for having a preconceived agenda to present every Scientology story in a false and unfavorable light.. The Times counted each parcel that was assigned a value by the property appraiser as a single property with five exceptions. Among them: make Clearwater known as the first Scientology city in the world.. None of the other parishioners whose companies bought property since 2017 responded to questions about their plans. He has also lived in Hong Kong and South Korea. But that is where it ends. In Mesa, its the Mormon Church that dominates the area and I was able to work in that environment. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. 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 lack of action from Scientology-tied buyers has precedent. The campus collects millions each week through fundraising and payments for expensive courses and high-level religious counseling not offered anywhere else. Clearwater is the permanent home to more than 10,000 Scientology parishioners. Paid in cash. Copyright 2023 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved. pauline hanson dancing with the stars; just jerk dance members; what happens if a teacher gets a dui 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. Andrus did not respond to an email, phone message, a note left at his office or a certified letter. The gallery does not include properties bought by companies run by church members. Longtime City Manager Bill Horne said he cant tell whether the church wants the same thing. They haven't started construction - or are they going to redevelop them and bring businesses in and contribute to a vibrant downtown? 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. 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. In 2017 the church acquired six downtown Clearwater retail properties through limited liability companies. He saw the area improve when police cracked down on drugs and prostitution decades ago. He shows up in Clearwater from Arizona a few months ago. The spa's website makes it clear that, "In fact, we are, by definition, a Christian based business.". And Scientology has an interest in keeping that insulated according to former executives that we've interviewed. There's parishioners that come here from all over the world to take courses in high level auditing that's not offered anywhere else. Scientology came to downtown Clearwater in 1975. Local Scientology spokesman Ben Shaw and international spokeswoman Karin Pouw did not respond to repeated requests by the Times for an interview with Scientology leader David Miscavige. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler brokered at least 10 downtown sales on behalf of seven buyers. 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. Melitta coffee filters are manufactured in Clearwater, Florida. Ever since Ive been here, and ever since Ive dealt with Scientology officials, I have heard the leaders articulate that they want to see a vibrant downtown, Horne said. Many of the properties werent on the market when the deals were made. And $99 million of the $103 million in real-estate deals over the past three years were in cash. The Church was unaware of the significant number of properties owned by Scientologists in the Clearwater area and are delighted you provided the information.. Asked directly whether Scientology orchestrated or paid for any of the sales, the church did not answer. The church offered $15 million for the parcel. One of these accounts shows discretionary assets of $134.77 million. 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. Reached at their condo, his wife declined to comment. Graphics by ELI MURRAY But on days with no events, downtown feels deserted. Its too soon to say how the shift in ownership will affect downtown. Since July 2019, eight limited liability companies managed or operatedby members of the church have bought 45 properties in North Marina, including Chesneys. Tyler Rice has run Carillon Flooring Center on North Fort Harrison for 30 years, the business his father started there in 1964. We don't know what they're planning to do with the properties. Letsgetstarted. 2. Businesses without ties to the church are moving into a few of those. Some landlords tied to Scientology have helped bring life to portions of downtown. The Times described sales as cash transactions when they were paid without a mortgage filed in public records. In the article cited, Riley makes an interesting comment (emphasis ours): The opportunity Riley is pursuing to activate the 21 acres is similar to his project in Mesa, Arizona, where he acquired and developed nine properties. 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. Almost immediately, a decades-long trickle of purchases by church members turned into a flood. The church, its members and companies they control now own 185 properties that cover 101 acres in the center of downtown. About $15.9 million was paid in cash. VIDEO: Finally, Scientific Proof that Scientologys Body Thetans Cannot Exist! This gallery shows all 60 properties Scientology owns under its name in Pinellas county and the six retail properties the church acquired through limited liability companies in 2017. February 1976: Scientology files a $1 million lawsuit against Cazares alleging he violated its constitutional rights with his public criticism. February 27, 2023 endeavor air pilot contract No Comments . Thats a factor we do not control, Delk said. Hayes, the attorney and parishioner involved in the rest of the North Marina purchases, was added as manager on the companies filings. When asked by the Tampa Bay Times about the 2017-2018 land purchases totaling $103 million made by Scientologists, Church attorney Gary Soter wrote a letter in which he stated: 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. MCMANUS: Yeah, that's a good question. The property wasnt on the market. Scientologists annually contribute $87,867,000 to charitable endeavors, money that uplifts the quality of life in Clearwater. City officials are trying to make the area a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. . Real estate offices, vitamin shops and vacant storefronts fill prime locations that in a more vibrant downtown might hold breweries, restaurants and boutiques. Hes encouraged by city investments in the boat ramp and North Ward Elementary, and holds out hope that the undeveloped lots and dilapidated homes will be replaced with something vibrant. Assistant City Manager Michael Delk said the citys priority is turning the spectacular land it owns into a community destination, no matter who owns the private property around it. I think it throws a stake in it when one party owns 50 percent or so. Scientology has said it has 10 million followers, but surveys and accounts from former members suggest there are no more than 30,000 worldwide. And in 1977, the FBI raided Scientology's headquarters in LA and D.C. And they uncovered hundreds of thousands of memos and documents. Osman Ozsan runs two funds in Clearwater: According to online records, Ozsan, Gregori And Company LLC has only two client accounts: Osman Ozsan is on the Advisory Board of CA South Development, a firm founded by Scientologists Megan and Stephen Epstein. (Everything owned by parishioner-run companies is still on the tax rolls. A few weeks later, John Yarbrough sold the building where he had run his electrical services business for 22 years. Nearly all of the roughly two dozen people listed as operating the companies are Scientologists. NIO stock swings lower after reporting losses that were much wider than expected, 3Ms stock surges after company says DOD data show 90% of earplug plaintiffs had normal hearing, Marc Benioffs Salesforce fairy tale is crumbling down around him. 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. . 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. Scientology has been accused of using the information as blackmail. (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. The US average revenue of a car dealership is $38.3 million. The more its isolated and doesnt have people who are non-Scientologists around the area, the better.. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So tell me about these land purchases. It is a big faux pas in business PR to bring up the subject of religion when it is absolutely unnecessary to do so. Tampa Bay Times reporter Tracey McManus has spent the last four years writing about Scientology and the churchs relationship with the city of Clearwater. A lot of them are vacant lots, vacant buildings, empty storefronts. This one is owned by a parishioner who had been featured on the churchs Meet a Scientologist video series. Scientologys extraordinary influence over its members has been documented in government investigations and testimony from former parishioners throughout its 65-year history. katherine noelle wyman; cape breton post obituaries 2022. location symbol text in word; list of female jockeys australia; mike conley house columbus ohio address 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. In both communities [comparing Mesa to Clearwater], there is a major presence of a church. Inc. magazine's 2019 report on the 5,000 fastest-growing privately owned businesses in America cites 16 firms based in Clearwater. . Gentile also purchased several Clearwater companies owned by Scientologists who may have invested the proceeds into land deals. What Clearwaters City Council thinks, Scientologys 40 years of conflict with Clearwater, recapped, See a slideshow of all the churchs buildings. They have control over what businesses, if any, come in. Although Zano is not well known in Clearwater, the companies spent $16.7 million acquiring 26 commercial properties downtown. There are 22 Church of Scientology facilities in downtown Clearwater. CBRE is an acronym for CB Richard Ellis. Instead, Epstein took the formal step of using an affidavit to deny that the Church of Scientology is not the client. Half the sales were for more than double what the properties were valued at by the county property appraiser. Cazares responds with an $8 million libel suit. CONNIE HUMBURG, TRACEY McMANUS, ELI MURRAY, ELI ZHANG | Times. I mean, do they view it as helpful for the community at large to have a major religious organization centered in their town or not? 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. The Church was unaware of the land purchases? It was owned by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Lee sold when Fischler upped her offer to $410,000 cash for the building valued at $109,000 by the property appraiser. Of the 100 properties bought by parishioner-managed companies near the downtown waterfront from 2017 to 2019, 24 storefronts and buildings remain empty, including a former Walgreens, an old jewelry store and prominent buildings along the North Fort Harrison corridor. According to his resume, he started the firm in 2003. Most religions have a fundamentalist wing, Rinder said. And he was going to recruit high-end retail to some of the empty storefronts because downtown Clearwater's pretty depressed. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Explain to me why the paper has a Scientology reporter. 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. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So the fact that the church is now buying up these properties through proxy organizations would maybe ring some alarm bells for the community because of what has happened in the past. The church acquired three others in a land swap. Melitta electrics and accessories are manufactured, marketed and distributed under a licensing agreement. Times Staff WritersOct. businesses owned by scientologists. EMPIRICAL PROSPECTING COMPANY LIMITED. 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. It has terrorized defectors with private investigators, smear campaigns and relentless litigation. Suspicion swirled. They haven't submitted redevelopment plans. Fuster and Ozsan go back a long way to Altea Real Property Ltd. in London. 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