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. (On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Times reported that since 2017, companies run by members of Scientology bought another 86 downtown commercial properties. Hes still holding out. The Florida Secretary of State records show the firm went dormant in 2012. He shows up in Clearwater from Arizona a few months ago. However, it hasnt always been clear to me as to just what does that actually mean.. Nearly two years after the properties were sold to a company run by two Scientologists, no redevelopment plans have been submitted. Thats a factor we do not control, Delk said. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Explain to me why the paper has a Scientology reporter. 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. The city, meanwhile, moved ahead on its now-$84 million Imagine Clearwater project, a plan to transform the city-owned downtown waterfront with an outdoor amphitheater, a garden, bluff walk and plaza. Suspicion swirled. Much of downtown Clearwater is now owned by people or companies tied to Scientology, a report finds. He has also lived in Hong Kong and South Korea. Yarbrough never learned the buyers identity. The project broke ground in August and is aimed at helping bring businesses and foot traffic to the empty storefronts in the surrounding blocks. Companies tied to the Church of Scientology paid millions in cash for 45 properties near downtown with no major plans in sight. Gentile also purchased several Clearwater companies owned by Scientologists who may have invested the proceeds into land deals. 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. The churchs hostility toward the public became clear from its first days in the city in fall 1975. 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? He walked away with nothing. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Tom De Vocht, a former Scientology executive who oversaw the churchs property in Clearwater from 1996 to 2001, said he believes Scientology is responding to the citys efforts by creating a buffer to keep the public away. The church has amassed 60 properties in Pinellas County since arriving in 1975. City officials say their dedication to redeveloping the waterfront hasnt changed. In both communities [comparing Mesa to Clearwater], there is a major presence of a church. He owns Stonebridge Real Estate and served as president of the Florida Gulfcoast Commercial Association of Realtors in 2017. When the council voted to buy the property, the chamber erupted in applause. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler brokered at least 10 downtown sales on behalf of seven buyers. 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. Scientologys international spiritual headquarters is anchored by the Flag Building, on left. Fifty-eight are in the city of Clearwater and 49 are downtown.. Since 2017, the Church of Scientology and companies run by its members have bought 92 properties around the center of downtown. 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. Copyright 2023 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved. His partner is Scientologist Maria Dolores Gregori Fuster. There are 22 Church of Scientology facilities in downtown Clearwater. Both are supposed to open soon. 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. 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. Everyone in KnowBe4 knows I'm a (proud) Scientologist. The Scientology leader had offered the Clearwater Marine Aquarium $15 million for that 1.4-acre grass lot on Pierce Street. 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. The origin story for the CB in CBRE does come from Coldwell Banker, but that was a very long time ago. We are an equal opportunity employer and fully EEOC compliant. 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. Scientologists living in Clearwater span the gamut of professional life . ), 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. 2. 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. How much of Clearwater is owned by Scientology? Brokers who are Scientologists approached at least 15 downtown owners about unlisted properties. In summer 2018, Fischler walked into Bob Lees Auto Repair on Park Street to make owner Dennis Bosi an offer. Half the sales were for more than double what the properties were valued at by the county property appraiser. After the Times reported the purchases, Miscavige acknowledged the properties were bought for a second revitalization strategy one devised by the church. Looking at the Times map of the new ownership, City Council member David Allbritton recalled a moment from 2017 that now seems telling. (I'm in Clearwater). 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. The Church of Scientology acquired the building in 2017 as part of its downtown redevelopment plan. This purchase was part of Project Normandy, a covert Scientology program to take over Clearwater. MCMANUS: Well, our reporting shows that Scientology has a big interest in preserving its downtown campus. A few months later, the newcomers admitted they were actually Scientology. Indeed, Scientology used the name The United Churches of Florida to purchase the Fort Harrison in 1975 for $3 million in cash. 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. Times reporters built a database of hundreds of properties in the center of Clearwaters downtown. 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. 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. All together, 32 companies bought 92 downtown properties since 2017. 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! The goal was to capture the area immediately surrounding both Scientologys headquarters, City Hall and the city-owned waterfront. In summer 2017, Mark Searcy, a longtime Clearwater real estate agent who is not a Scientologist, assembled a 1-acre site by getting the owners of three adjoining properties to agree to sell. AMI's culture and team members truly make AMI an amazing place to work! 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. 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. 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. They have completed courses and spiritual counseling that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. But far more non-Scientologists are moving out. The US average revenue of a car dealership is $38.3 million. My plan is to keep renting, Huestler said. 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. David Gentile is creative with money and had hundreds of bank accounts and sub-funds when he ran GPB Capital. 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) A lot of them are vacant lots, vacant buildings, empty storefronts. Spa not owned by a Scientologist. Additional Clearwater real estate purchases began in 2019. We built a graphic demonstrating just how little is left. The church attracts members through a theology of self improvement and understanding. This one is owned by a parishioner who had been featured on the churchs Meet a Scientologist video series. Sep 19, 2022 - Anonymous Employee in Clearwater, FL. They were very secretive, he said. Huestler said broker Terri Novitsky calls him every now and again to see if hed be interested in selling. The land grab started as tensions grew between the church and the Clearwater City Council. 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. 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. We will continue research on our new Trish Duggan theory. 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. 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. Hibbard previously served as Mayor from 2005 until 2012, leaving office because of term limits. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler, a Scientologist, called and showed up to the shop a handful of times in mid-2018. Over the past two years, the properties surrounding the shop have been sold to Scientologist-controlled companies. 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. ANTIFRAGILE LIMITED 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. Epstein could have simply told the reporter his client was not the Church of Scientology and left it at that. Weve spent a lot of happy years here, Lares said. I would ask that you clarify the reference to CBRE. At first, I just wanted to make a short video about the buildings and programs they are doing in clearwater. Scientology spokesman Ben Shaw said in a statement that the church is not involved with the acquisitions. It bought a hotel and wrote plans to take control of the city. Osman Ozsan is of interest to us because he is connected to Rod Riley, a non-Scientologist realtor and real estate developer from Arizona. CEO Approval. Please! About 72 percent of those properties are tax exempt for religious uses. Where did all that money come from? I mean, how big is the Church of Scientology where you are? Coincident with this Riley-registered RSR Capital Advisors as an LLC in Florida on March 21, 2022. CONNIE HUMBURG, TRACEY McMANUS, ELI MURRAY, ELI ZHANG | Times. 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. Real estate agent David Kerr represented a buyer that paid more than three times what a property was valued by the county property appraiser. 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. Cazares responds with an $8 million libel suit. The church stopped communicating with the city. My sister is always struggling with money and drugs: I own a house with my husband and mother. 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. ( magazine) Applied Philosophy ARC Straightwire (ARC stands for affinity-reality-communication) ARC Fil Direct Audited NOTs (NOT stands for NED [New Era Dianetics] Operating Thetan) The Auditor 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. MCMANUS: Yeah, I think that the key here is the uncertainty. Both have been there for decades. Operatives framed the mayor in a staged hit-and-run and spread false rumors he was having an extramarital affair. Scientology Fines OTs $100,000 if They Talk About Xenu or Body Thetans! City officials are trying to make the area a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has purchased 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name. Longtime City Manager Bill Horne said he cant tell whether the church wants the same thing. February 1976: Scientology files a $1 million lawsuit against Cazares alleging he violated its constitutional rights with his public criticism. Getty. And the Times found that in six cases buyers paid quadruple a propertys value. You are a fundamentalist Scientologist, or youre not one at all.. We interpret it as the Tampa Bay Times getting too close for Mr. Epsteins comfort. Since July 2019, eight limited liability companies managed or operated by members of the church have bought 45 properties in North Marina, including Chesneys. And the mayor at the time, Gabe Cazares, really raised the alarm. 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. The Times used the date that transactions were recorded in Clerk of Courts official record as the date of sale. 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. Be informed that their owners are local Scientologists who support the abuses of Scientology leader David Miscavige. Howd that go? Help us keep bringing stories like this to you. GPB Capital Holdings: Court-Appointed Monitors Report on Q4 2022 Activities. Miscavige cut off communication with the city. 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. She estimated that around a quarter of the . He is not listed on the corporate filings for any of the eight limited liability companies that recently bought the North Marina properties. MCMANUS: Yeah, that's a good question. They now own most commercial property on every block within walking distance of the waterfront. Tampa Bay Times reporter Tracey McManus has spent the last four years writing about Scientology and the churchs relationship with the city of Clearwater. The Church of Scientology and its parishioners now own a lot of real estate in Clearwater, Fla., as reported by the Tampa Bay Times. 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. An empty Walgreens. They have control over what businesses, if any, come in. So we kept our eye on the downtown purchases. We also hold the distinction of being the first Scientology Church in the Southern Hemisphere. 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. Clarification made on CBRE and thank you for pointing that out. Seventy-three percent of the property is tax-exempt for religious purposes. Gentile also purchased several Clearwater companies owned by Scientologists who may have invested the proceeds into land deals. 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. Rice said hes been surprised that he has not been approached by brokers trying to buy his 10,000-square-foot building. In a letter, the church said the Times is misinterpreting Scientology policy and that other religions also practice shunning. 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. Fischler, a local real estate agent, negotiated at least 10 of the downtown deals, according to interviews with sellers. Learn how your comment data is processed. Wayne E. Lee ran his Auto Parts Distributors business on Park Street since 1982. Concerned he wouldnt be able to pay his mortgage, Argall said he deeded the building, appraised at $780,000, back to the previous owner. 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.. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Who are they buying from, and how much were they offering? The church, its members and companies they control now own 185 properties that cover 101 acres in the center of downtown. 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.. The property wasnt on the market. Riley thereafter became a Regional Manager forCB Richard Ellis. MCMANUS: Right - because the city officials have said that there's only so many factors they control. Paid in cash. Flag is supposed to be an insulated oasis. Xenu Who? Over the next four decades, the church gradually amassed 58 properties in Clearwater under its name, 49 of them downtown. But they werent ready to sell the building, which they had owned for 27 years. Riley is also working with Gensler on the development. Candidates and Scientologists Emrani, Kintzel and . A few weeks later, John Yarbrough sold the building where he had run his electrical services business for 22 years. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with reporter Tracey McManus. These workers sign billion year contracts, are paid very little, work around the clock. Copyright 2019 NPR. Its like they are trying to control the whole thing.. You have some buyers here that their motivations are not really clear, he said, so its tough to make economic sense out of it.. 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