Real estate agent Brian Andrus controls seven properties bought around the citys public boat ramp. DEUTERIUM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Hayes, the attorney and parishioner involved in the rest of the North Marina purchases, was added as manager on the companies filings. Jim Huestler is the blocks only holdout with a rental home on the northeast corner. That company has had no connection to Coldwell Banker for decades. He had committed to downtown in 1997. If Epsteins client was not the Church of Scientology then who is his client? Visit a quote page and your recently viewed tickers will be displayed here. I dont know what their plan is.. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So clearly they wanted these properties a great deal. The Times used the date that transactions were recorded in Clerk of Courts official record as the date of sale. . Suspicion swirled. But far more non-Scientologists are moving out. But now these LLCs tied to Scientology control the retail district. 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. MCMANUS: Right - because the city officials have said that there's only so many factors they control. Rice said hes been surprised that he has not been approached by brokers trying to buy his 10,000-square-foot building. Today, 10 years later, the economic influence of Scientologists in the community is commensurately higher. Most of the new owners have done little with their acquisitions. 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. In her bombshell 2019 news story Clear Takeover, Tracey McManus revealed that $103 million in Downtown Clearwater land purchases were made by a series of LLC's owned by Scientologists. It would be the same if I was a (proud) Christian, Jew, or Muslim. 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 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. He wanted the council to stop trying to buy a vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. In Mesa, its the Mormon Church that dominates the area and I was able to work in that environment. The church stopped communicating with the city. 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 impact is clearest in the heart of downtown. It was a very turbulent time. Be informed that their owners are local Scientologists who support the abuses of Scientology leader David Miscavige. The church attracts members through a theology of self improvement and understanding. A broker is trying to buy the building Peter and Emily Lares have owned for decades. Delk described the projects which require voter approval as key to the plans success. Aaron Smith-Levin, who left the world of Scientology after 29 years, is running to serve on the council in Clearwaterwhich has been home to the church's international spiritual headquarters. Since July 2019, eight limited liability companies managed or operatedby members of the church have bought 45 properties in North Marina, including Chesneys. In 2018, Peter Lares got a call from Fischler, asking if hed sell the prominent building in the center of downtown that houses Emilys Restaurant. Melitta coffee filters are manufactured in Clearwater, Florida. About 72 percent of those properties are tax exempt for religious uses. (I'm in Clearwater). The church offered $15 million for the parcel. But David Kerr, a local real estate agent and parishioner, walked in one day with an offer. Of the $103 million spent, $99 million was paid in cash. Sponsored by HomeIPO.org Is it possible to get money (maybe $50k) without a loan? Since July 2019, eight limited liability companies managed or operated by members of the church have bought 45 properties in North Marina, including Chesneys. The churchs hostility toward the public became clear from its first days in the city in fall 1975. The church also targeted the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Justice and scores of foreign governments. Please! February 27, 2023 endeavor air pilot contract No Comments . Osman Ozsan has been a Scientologist since the 1990s. Scientologys extraordinary influence over its members has been documented in government investigations and testimony from former parishioners throughout its 65-year history. Instead, the aquarium sold it to the city in April 2017 for a lot less $4.25 million. #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. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler brokered at least 10 downtown sales on behalf of seven buyers. City officials are trying to make the area a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. Construction on eight townhomes on the south end of the marina began Oct. 1, according to county records. The Church was unaware of the land purchases? Times Staff WritersOct. 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. I saw a business opportunity, Ezra said. 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. Four high-ranking defectors describe bizarre behavior and physical beatings inflicted by Scientology leader David Miscavige. The Florida Secretary of State records show the firm went dormant in 2012. In North America, Melitta is the leading brand of coffee filters. Ive been waiting for this neighborhood to clean up for 30 years, and I still think its around the corner, Rice said. Right now, at least 30 businesses owned by non-parishioners are renting from Scientologists. Nearly all of the roughly two dozen people listed as operating the companies are Scientologists. He shows up in Clearwater from Arizona a few months ago. All 45 North Marina properties were purchased by companies managed or operated by two longtime members of Scientology: Steven Hayes, an attorney who has done legal work on behalf of church related organizations for more than two decades, and Norm Novitsky, a businessperson who has donated at least $5 million to Scientology. ARKWRIGHT ROAD LIMITED Since 2017, the Church of Scientology and companies run by its members have bought 92 properties around the center of downtown. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler, a Scientologist, called and showed up to the shop a handful of times in mid-2018. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. (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. He was overseeing the religion from aboard a ship to avoid investigations into tax evasion and fraud when he selected Clearwater as a spiritual headquarters. The Scientology leader had offered the Clearwater Marine Aquarium $15 million for that 1.4-acre grass lot on Pierce Street. Limited liability companies managed by Hayes, the attorney whos done work on behalf of the church, bought almost the entire square block directly east of the North Ward school. VIDEO: Finally, Scientific Proof that Scientologys Body Thetans Cannot Exist! MCMANUS: You know, Lulu, from my reporting, I've learned that there's a lot of mistrust and suspicion still in the community when it comes to Scientology because a lot of the residents here were living in the city when Scientology arrived in the '70s, and they remember the tactics Scientology used. Based upon on our new hypothesis that Trish Duggan may be the financier of the land purchases, the logic of bringing in non-Scientologist Rod Riley to act as the frontman makes sense as it can serve to counter any accusation that Scientology is taking over Clearwater. Epstein declined to name his client but responded to questions from the Times with an affidavit declaring it was not the Church of Scientology. All five City Council members said they doubted the rash of purchases were unrelated. One of these accounts shows discretionary assets of $134.77 million. They started hosting concerts on the waterfront that now draw thousands. The greatest number of properties were bought by companies controlled by either Israeli businessman Itzhak Zano or another Scientologist who represents him. 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. But companies controlled by different parishioners bought neighboring properties that create clear assemblages of land. Indeed, Scientology used the name The United Churches of Florida to purchase the Fort Harrison in 1975 for $3 million in cash. Click here to read the story. 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. The main reason why developers didnt want it was they didnt want to be near the Church of Scientology, Searcy said. (SOUNDBITE OF CHICK COREA'S "RETURN TO FOREVER"). Cazares responds with an $8 million libel suit. He is linked to the Church of Scientology via the Epsteins and Trish Duggan. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Explain to me why the paper has a Scientology reporter. She estimated that around a quarter of the . 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.. It does not include properties recently bought by companies run by church members. One of the factors they do control is the waterfront land that's protected by city charter, that they are in the middle of a $64 million plan right now to redesign and develop into a park with gardens and a concert venue. The other side of that is flag is run by the Sea Org, the Scientology's full-time workforce. But they werent ready to sell the building, which they had owned for 27 years. This one is owned by a parishioner who had been featured on the churchs Meet a Scientologist video series. Instead, Epstein took the formal step of using an affidavit to deny that the Church of Scientology is not the client. 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 both communities [comparing Mesa to Clearwater], there is a major presence of a church. We also hold the distinction of being the first Scientology Church in the Southern Hemisphere. Times reporters built a database of hundreds of properties in the center of Clearwaters downtown. Scientologys international spiritual headquarters is anchored by the Flag Building, on left. Rabid Cult: Scientology Bites Dog Food Company; Attacks Cream Cheese; and Screams at Rolling Stone Magazine, Podcast with Aaron Smith-Levin: Grant Cardone Lawsuit Update & David Gentile Criminal Case. Write by: . And our analysis found that these church officials were offering two, three, four times what the property appraiser said the properties were valued. 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. 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 family of Moises Agami, a developer whose companies bought 20 storefronts and a parking lot last year, has donated at least $10 million. It was owned by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. And the properties cover about 100 acres. 2. 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. There is no discrimination for or against *any* religion. 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. MCMANUS: Well, our reporting shows that Scientology has a big interest in preserving its downtown campus. Religious Technology Center (RTC) is the primary manager of Scientology intellectual property. High-ranking defectors provide an unprecedented inside look at Scientology, its leader and the Lisa McPherson case. City leaders spent tens of millions improving streets, subsidizing residential projects and hiring consultants. This is the Church of Hyper-Surveillance that knows everything about the private and business lives of its members; their social media activities; and even what they did in their past lives. Typically, when people buy commercial real estate, they move forward with construction or redevelopment. A for-lease sign sits in long-vacant retail space at The SkyView condo tower, owned by Scientologist and developer Moises Agami. Tampa Bay Times reporter Tracey McManus has spent the last four years writing about Scientology and the churchs relationship with the city of Clearwater. MCMANUS: The reason Scientology has such an outsized influence is because of the cash and assets it has, which is estimated to be $3 billion. After the Times reported the purchases, Miscavige acknowledged the properties were bought for a second revitalization strategy one devised by the church. His job appears to be one of a PR guy who can appeal to Clearwater City Government. Theyve got one intention, and one intention only, De Vocht said. Fischler offered Bosi $1.4 million, almost three times what the property was valued. Thats a factor we do not control, Delk said. As a general rule, when someone makes an unsolicited statement, as Riley did by mentioning Mormons and Scientologists, it suggests to us hidden connections. And it's also basically the financial nucleus of the entire organization. Steven Epstein took the unusual step of preparing an affidavit to tell the Tampa Bay Times that his client was not the Church of Scientology. There is ZERO chance of me getting sucked in. And the tactics they were using to establish area control included infiltration, spying, smearing enemies. It is all so convenient for Rodney that it appears to be scripted. Another tell. The campus collects millions each week through fundraising and payments for expensive courses and high-level religious counseling not offered anywhere else. And the mayor at the time, Gabe Cazares, really raised the alarm. At first, I just wanted to make a short video about the buildings and programs they are doing in clearwater. All they did was act like children and make crude sex/homophobic/racial jokes about being raped, gangbanged, etc. 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. In Florida, limited liability companies that buy property are required to disclose administrative operators but not their owners. Welcome. We interpret it as the Tampa Bay Times getting too close for Mr. Epsteins comfort. Dozens of residents showed up to speak. Rod Riley has no background in Scientology. More interesting is that the 15 parcels of land Riley plans acquire in Clearwater are owned by Scientologists. The few willing to answer questions said Scientology has no influence on their real estate dealings. Riley thereafter became a Regional Manager forCB Richard Ellis. Half the properties were bought since January 2017. In a letter, the church said the Times is misinterpreting Scientology policy and that other religions also practice shunning. If the council in 2020 isnt on board with doing something his way, hes going to do it himself.. In late 2020, Terri Novitsky also was elected to the Downtown Development Board, an advisory group tasked with promoting downtown. 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. Half the sales were for more than double what the properties were valued at by the county property appraiser. 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. 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. A uniformed member of Scientologys full-time work force, the Sea Org, walks along N Fort Harrison Avenue, passing a vacant restaurant. ANTIFRAGILE LIMITED If so, it's technically possible with a home IPO. It has terrorized defectors with private investigators, smear campaigns and relentless litigation. And yes, everyone that works here is asked to keep politics and religion out . We built a graphic demonstrating just how little is left. After negotiations, Kerrs company paid Yarbrough $1.1 million in cash for the lots, then valued by Pinellas County at $331,000. 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. Both the Church of Scientology and GPB Capital denied it. Florida migrant flights lawsuit dismissed in wake of Legislature passing law, Editorial Cartoons for Thursday from Times Wire Services, Bucs new coordinator is confident! 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. By then, the churchs intelligence unit was already deploying an elaborate scheme to establish area control in the city. Another Scientologist, Rick Argall, owned a building on downtowns Garden Avenue that housed six Scientologist-run businesses, including a chiropractic clinic he operated with a fellow church member. The Times also contacted representatives of all 32 companies it identified that bought downtown real estate over the past three years. Gensler does all the architectural work for Scientologys Ideal Orgs. 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! Flag is what they call it, and it's the international spiritual headquarters of the church. Scientology has said it has 10 million followers, but surveys and accounts from former members suggest there are no more than 30,000 worldwide. When the council voted to buy the property, the chamber erupted in applause. 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. NIO's stock slumped toward a 2 1/2-year low, after the China-based EV maker reported a much wider-than-expected loss and revenue that fell short of forecasts. Gulf Coast Marine and ClearwaterPlumbing. Times investigative reporters pored over 1,000 deeds and business records, and interviewed more than 90 people, to connect the dots from the church buying its first hotel in the area in 1975, to Scientologists and their businesses now owning 185 properties covering 101 acres in the heart of downtown Clearwater which is also Scientologys headquarters, and home to its flag campus, to which Scientologists across the globe make pilgrimages. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has purchased 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name. These workers sign billion year contracts, are paid very little, work around the clock. Huestler said broker Terri Novitsky calls him every now and again to see if hed be interested in selling. I saw a business opportunity, he said. The Church of Scientology and its members are rapidly buying up a vast downtown neighborhood in a Florida city, according to a major investigation by the Tampa Bay Times. Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in Scientologys government espionage scheme, which sent 11 Scientologists to federal prison. I think it's comparable to say it's kind of, like, if there were to be a Vatican reporter in Vatican City. businesses owned by scientologists. 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. But his offer had a catch. 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. 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. For example, David Miscaviges personal lawyer of 35 years Monique Yingling has never been a Scientologist. 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 requires followers to shun family members, friends and business contacts who defy it. Purchases in the North Marina Area took off in July 2019, three months after the City Council voted to buy the historic North Ward Elementary School across the street from the Seminole ramp and Andrus condo. Our opinion is that Riley was instructed to get ahead of the story by bringing up Scientology before he was asked about it. can t use carpenter's workbench skyrim; how long does it take a rat to starve to death; cowboy hat making supplies; why would i get a letter from circuit clerk In an interview with Scientology-owned "Freedom Magazine" Gendusa said that she moved to Clearwater to study Scientology more than 25 years ago. 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