companies owned by scientologists in clearwatercompanies owned by scientologists in clearwater

According to a new report by The Tampa Bay Times, the Church of Scientology and related entities now own over $260 million of property in 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. The few willing to answer questions said Scientology has no influence on their real estate dealings. 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 . Welcome. Lee sold when Fischler upped her offer to $410,000 cash for the building valued at $109,000 by the property appraiser. pauline hanson dancing with the stars; just jerk dance members; what happens if a teacher gets a dui 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. We also hold the distinction of being the first Scientology Church in the Southern Hemisphere. Andrus did not respond to an email, phone message, a note left at his office or a certified letter. We don't know if they're just going to continue to squat on them - because they haven't done anything yet. All they did was act like children and make crude sex/homophobic/racial jokes about being raped, gangbanged, etc. Over half are owned or operated by Scientologists. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So clearly they wanted these properties a great deal. 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. City officials say their dedication to redeveloping the waterfront hasnt changed. AMI's culture and team members truly make AMI an amazing place to work! 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. Fischler approached Bosi again in September. The campus collects millions each week through fundraising and payments for expensive courses and high-level religious counseling not offered anywhere else. All rights reserved. It has terrorized defectors with private investigators, smear campaigns and relentless litigation. Religious Technology Center (RTC) is the primary manager of Scientology intellectual property. Riley is also working with Gensler on the development. Soters comment evokes for us what Captain Renault said in Casablanca: Im shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!. Florida migrant flights lawsuit dismissed in wake of Legislature passing law, Editorial Cartoons for Thursday from Times Wire Services, Bucs new coordinator is confident! His job appears to be one of a PR guy who can appeal to Clearwater City Government. Whats more, the Times found a Scientology magazine from the 1990s that listed goals for the new millennium. Right now, at least 30 businesses owned by non-parishioners are renting from Scientologists. In an interview with Scientology-owned "Freedom Magazine" Gendusa said that she moved to Clearwater to study Scientology more than 25 years ago. So we kept our eye on the downtown purchases. Fischler, a local real estate agent, negotiated at least 10 of the downtown deals, according to interviews with sellers. Fifty-three of those are for properties owned by companies run by himself with fellow Scientologist Emrani, a candidate in this election. Amazing Place to Work. If this is Trish Duggans money, and Scientologist Osman Ozsan manages her money, then that could very likely make Trish Duggan the Scientologist financier behind the scenes on the Clearwater land purchases. In both communities [comparing Mesa to Clearwater], there is a major presence of a church. Both are supposed to open soon. Nearly all of the properties were bought through limited liability companies, which are required to disclose their operators but not their owners. Much of downtown Clearwater is now owned by people or companies tied to Scientology, a report finds. [ The full history: Scientologys 40 years of conflict with the City of Clearwater, recapped ]. 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. Argall left the church and was forced to abandon his business of more than 20 years. businesses owned by scientologists. The Church is the largest property taxpayer in downtown Clearwater, paying nearly $1 million in property taxes last year. 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. 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. As a general rule, when someone makes an unsolicited statement, as Riley did by mentioning Mormons and Scientologists, it suggests to us hidden connections. If so, it's technically possible with a home IPO. Lares and his wife, Emily, sold the diner inside a decade ago. Norm Novitsky hung up when asked by a reporter about the companies plans. 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 project broke ground in August and is aimed at helping bring businesses and foot traffic to the empty storefronts in the surrounding blocks. . 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. Typically, when people buy commercial real estate, they move forward with construction or redevelopment. Hes starting to assemble properties, Allbritton said. Please consider supporting us with a tax-deductible donation to the Tampa Bay Times Investigative Fund. It was a very turbulent time. There is no discrimination for or against *any* religion. In Mesa, its the Mormon Church that dominates the area and I was able to work in that environment. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So tell me about these land purchases. In 2002, she was listed as an international deputy of a committee tasked with disseminating Scientology doctrine. And half the sales were for more than double what the properties were valued by the county property appraiser, the Times found. 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.. Thank you very much. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. City Council member Mark Bunker said although the church is not the official buyer of the downtown and North Marina properties, there is reason to believe Scientology leader David Miscavige is orchestrating the parishioner-operated companies making the acquisitions. The more its isolated and doesnt have people who are non-Scientologists around the area, the better.. After buying eight buildings on and around Cleveland Street in 2018, Moises Agami, a parishioner and developer, now has restaurants, shops and other businesses in 16 of those 20 storefronts. The origin story for the CB in CBRE does come from Coldwell Banker, but that was a very long time ago. Among them was to make Clearwater known as the first Scientology city in the world.. Hes still holding out. Rice said hes been surprised that he has not been approached by brokers trying to buy his 10,000-square-foot building. During that period, downtown purchases by limited liability companies managed by members of Scientology accelerated. Riley thereafter became a Regional Manager forCB Richard Ellis. A few weeks later, John Yarbrough sold the building where he had run his electrical services business for 22 years. And yes, everyone that works here is asked to keep politics and religion out . I believe its irrational to buy property and not fully utilize it.. The report notes that half of these properties have been bought since January 2017 after the organization and the Clearwater City Council presented competing redevelopment projects to the downtown district and its waterfront. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has purchased 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name. $99 million of the purchases were paid for in cash.. We have previously presented a case that the $103 million was provided by Scientologist David Gentile's GPB Capital Holdings. Both the Church of Scientology and GPB Capital denied it. Miscavige cut off communication with the city. It appears that Project Normandy is still operational. Theres no such thing in Scientology. I saw a business opportunity, he said. 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. City officials are trying to make the area a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. MCMANUS: Yeah, that's a good question. Flag is run by the churchs full-time workforce, the Sea Org, whose members sign billion-year contracts and work around the clock. Additional Clearwater real estate purchases began in 2019. 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. CLEARWATER Ed Chesney had two rental homes and two vacant lots in the North Marina Area on the market for a year before his real estate agent called in late 2019 with good news. They now own most commercial property on every block within walking distance of the waterfront. In January and February 2017, a handful of limited liability companies bought six prime downtown parcels. He saw the area improve when police cracked down on drugs and prostitution decades ago. Businesses without ties to the church are moving into a few of those. The main reason why developers didnt want it was they didnt want to be near the Church of Scientology, Searcy said. Bosi wasnt interested. Reached at their condo, his wife declined to comment. But its potential is still untapped, with prime vacant land overlooking Clearwater Harbor. The Church was unaware of the land purchases? Seventy-three percent of the property is tax-exempt for religious purposes. Seven businesses have left following recent purchases, and at least three more are leaving this year, including Clearwater Plumbing and Gulf Coast Marine. 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. A lot of them are vacant lots, vacant buildings, empty storefronts. Most did not respond or declined to comment. According to his resume, he started the firm in 2003. Many of the properties werent on the market. 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. MCMANUS: Well, our reporting shows that Scientology has a big interest in preserving its downtown campus. Scientology Fines OTs $100,000 if They Talk About Xenu or Body Thetans! Letsgetstarted. At first, I just wanted to make a short video about the buildings and programs they are doing in clearwater. More interesting is that the 15 parcels of land Riley plans acquire in Clearwater are owned by Scientologists. But that is where it ends. And it's all surrounding the city's downtown waterfront. Candidates and Scientologists Emrani, Kintzel and . LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST: 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. Howd that go? His wife, parishioner and real estate agent, Terri Novitsky, represented the buyer in many of the deals, according to interviews with sellers. Then walk down Cleveland Street downtowns main artery. Why does this matter? "I do not want to be associated . Graphics by ELI MURRAY (Everything owned by parishioner-run companies is still on the tax rolls. 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. (SOUNDBITE OF CHICK COREA'S "RETURN TO FOREVER"). City leaders spent tens of millions improving streets, subsidizing residential projects and hiring consultants. 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. His attorney, Louis Zaretsky, wrote in a letter to the Times that Zano is a businessman with vast real estate holdings in Israel, Germany, Poland, New York and Florida who makes investments based on his belief that they will appreciate or otherwise contribute to his long-term goals.. 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. Times Staff WritersOct. You are a fundamentalist Scientologist, or youre not one at all.. February 1976: Scientology files a $1 million lawsuit against Cazares alleging he violated its constitutional rights with his public criticism. The inn had stood empty since being damaged in a 1989 arson fire and the Church of Scientology acquired the land in 1991 after it had been purchased by local property developer Terence J. McCarthy, the owner of T.J.M. Clearwater is the permanent home to more than 10,000 Scientology parishioners. 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. But on the notice filed with Pinellas County for the roof replacement at 801 N Fort Harrison Ave., Andrus signed his name as a manager of the company that owns the building. After that, the Times writes, Scientology began grabbing property at an unprecedented rate, adding that 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. In fact, 22 of the first 33 buildings on Cleveland Street, considered the downtown districts main artery, are tied to Scientology. 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. 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