(CBRE) in April 2016. In January and February 2017, a handful of limited liability companies bought six prime downtown parcels. I would ask that you clarify the reference to CBRE. The Times described sales as cash transactions when they were paid without a mortgage filed in public records. Spa not owned by a Scientologist. 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.. Rod Riley has no background in Scientology. But on days with no events, downtown feels deserted. 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. And it's all surrounding the city's downtown waterfront. Tal Ezra, a Scientologist who recently bought four parcels around an office where he has run his fuel management company since 2005, said hes considering office space and possibly a retail shop. Paid in cash. Rodney Riley is an interesting character in this whole thing. All they did was act like children and make crude sex/homophobic/racial jokes about being raped, gangbanged, etc. Mike Rinder, who led Scientologys intelligence arm before defecting in 2007, said any property owned by a parishioner is in the churchs control. 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 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. Seventy-one percent of the 60 parcels the Church of Scientology owns under its name in Pinellas County are tax-exempt for religious purposes. We previously reported on CA South Development. The Church of Scientology and its parishioners now own a lot of real estate in Clearwater, Fla., as reported by the Tampa Bay Times. But far more non-Scientologists are moving out. [ The full history: Scientologys 40 years of conflict with the City of Clearwater, recapped ]. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. She estimated that around a quarter of the . Defectors have said they were paid less than $50 a week. In 2002, she was listed as an international deputy of a committee tasked with disseminating Scientology doctrine. It said information in parishioner folders is sacrosanct and claims of blackmail have long since been disproven.. 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. There are 22 Church of Scientology facilities in downtown Clearwater. Both have been there for decades. Thats a factor we do not control, Delk said. 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 built a graphic demonstrating just how little is left. City officials are trying to make the area a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. Tampa Bay Times reporter Tracey McManus has spent the last four years writing about Scientology and the churchs relationship with the city of Clearwater. At first, I just wanted to make a short video about the buildings and programs they are doing in clearwater. (I'm in Clearwater). Since 2017, the Church of Scientology and companies run by its members have bought 92 properties around the center of downtown. The project broke ground in August and is aimed at helping bring businesses and foot traffic to the empty storefronts in the surrounding blocks. The lack of action from Scientology-tied buyers has precedent. The spa's website makes it clear that, "In fact, we are, by definition, a Christian based business.". Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard had written about doing away with governments and replacing them with a Scientology-run society. In 2016, city consultants began planning what has become a $64 million effort to reinvigorate the waterfront called Imagine Clearwater. Where did all that money come from? 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. Brokers who are Scientologists approached at least 15 downtown owners about unlisted properties. After his stint at CBRE, Riley worked for Caliber Wells in Scottsdale, Arizona and then left the firm. 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. Pros. Scientologys survival depends on the preservation of its headquarters in Clearwater. 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. Construction on eight townhomes on the south end of the marina began Oct. 1, according to county records. Recommend. Bosi wasnt interested. 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. Tyler Rice has run Carillon Flooring Center on North Fort Harrison for 30 years, the business his father started there in 1964. No one from the church dictates to me what to buy, what to sell, what to do.. He took over Bob Lees Auto to continue the business legacy and served on the Downtown Development Board for a decade. 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. 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. Some have donated millions to the church. Lares and his wife, Emily, sold the diner inside a decade ago. Gensler does all the architectural work for Scientologys Ideal Orgs. It also has to be someone who trusts the Epsteins enough to invest with them. Longtime City Manager Bill Horne said he cant tell whether the church wants the same thing. Scientologists deal with useful non-Scientologists quite often. Scientologists annually contribute $87,867,000 to charitable endeavors, money that uplifts the quality of life in Clearwater. What's more, the Times found a Scientology magazine from the 1990s that listed goals for the new millennium. In the world of poker this is called a tell. VIDEO: Finally, Scientific Proof that Scientologys Body Thetans Cannot Exist! Non-Scientologists who get too close are a threat to the operation, said Mat Pesch, who spent 27 years in the Sea Org and worked as Flags treasury secretary before defecting in 2005. Its a business, Pesch said. All rights reserved. The church has shed no light on its plans. All together, 32 companies bought 92 downtown properties since 2017. But the aquarium rejected his bid in order to sell it to the city for $4.25 million. 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. In 2017 the church acquired six downtown Clearwater retail properties through limited liability companies. Most of the sales have not previously been reported. This one is owned by a parishioner who had been featured on the churchs Meet a Scientologist video series. 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. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Who are they buying from, and how much were they offering? Once we dug into the data and pulled records, we found that LLCs tied to the Church of Scientology had bought about 100 properties. Then he would try again, with new council members. This month, Shahab Emrani was elected to the Downtown Development Board, which helps promote downtown. Almost immediately, a decades-long trickle of purchases by church members turned into a flood. Terri Novitsky and Hayes did not return calls and emails requesting comment. The total of all Scientology-connected Clearwater real estate purchases $114.8 million. His job appears to be one of a PR guy who can appeal to Clearwater City Government. City leaders spent tens of millions improving streets, subsidizing residential projects and hiring consultants. The more its isolated and doesnt have people who are non-Scientologists around the area, the better.. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has purchased 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name. Searcy felt like hed created a canvas for a dream hotel, condo and retail project: near the bridge to Clearwater Beach, no height restrictions, all under $5 million. Philip Kirkpatrick, Clearwaters senior economic development coordinator, said Stephen Epstein spoke with city officials in December about a potential commercial and multifamily project on the site. 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 is a very interesting report. Former parishioners say the church has a history of interfering in Scientologists downtown business. I just was curious if this is possibly a decent job or if EVERY scientologist owned company is a recruiting scam. (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. On Sept. 7, Epsteins employee was removed from the corporate filings of the company that own the land. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Delk described the projects which require voter approval as key to the plans success. Take away the church footprint, a few condo towers and all buildings owned by the government. About 72 percent of those properties are tax exempt for religious uses. 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. David Gentile is creative with money and had hundreds of bank accounts and sub-funds when he ran GPB Capital. Leading up to the waterfront, 22 of the first 33 buildings now have ties 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. Real estate offices, vitamin shops and vacant storefronts fill prime locations that in a more vibrant downtown might hold breweries, restaurants and boutiques. Fifty-three of those are for properties owned by companies run by himself with fellow Scientologist Emrani, a candidate in this election. Among them was to make Clearwater known as the first Scientology city in the world.. The Church is the largest property taxpayer in downtown Clearwater, paying nearly $1 million in property taxes last year. These workers sign billion year contracts, are paid very little, work around the clock. They doubled the churchs footprint in less than three years. Be informed that their owners are local Scientologists who support the abuses of Scientology leader David Miscavige. They now own most commercial property. By then, he had found an auto garage he could buy in Dunedin. 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. 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 told the paper. Zano did not respond to questions about what his plans for the properties. 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. The Times used the date that transactions were recorded in Clerk of Courts official record as the date of sale. In San Diego, Taylor Guitars and Deering Banjo Company. Much of downtown Clearwater is now owned by people or companies tied to Scientology, a report finds. During that period, downtown purchases by limited liability companies managed by members of Scientology accelerated. 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. It has terrorized defectors with private investigators, smear campaigns and relentless litigation. Fischler offered Bosi $1.4 million, almost three times what the property was valued. We also hold the distinction of being the first Scientology Church in the Southern Hemisphere. The Times counted each parcel that was assigned a value by the property appraiser as a single property with five exceptions. After leaving Caliber Wells, Rodney Riley began working with Megan and Stephen Epstein. His partner is Scientologist Maria Dolores Gregori Fuster. Then walk down Cleveland Street downtowns main artery. A lot of them are vacant lots, vacant buildings, empty storefronts. 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. Another tell. Osman Ozsan is, in our opinion, one of the more notable Scientologists youve never heard of. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. 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. 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. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler brokered at least 10 downtown sales on behalf of seven buyers. The Scientology leader had offered the Clearwater Marine Aquarium $15 million for that 1.4-acre grass lot on Pierce Street. They paid $26 million. A for-lease sign sits in long-vacant retail space at The SkyView condo tower, owned by Scientologist and developer Moises Agami. Yarbrough never learned the buyers identity. No one from the church dictates to me what to buy, what to sell, what to do., From the archives (May 2019):A supposed Scientology cruise ship is quarantined in St. Lucia over measles. Indeed, Scientology used the name The United Churches of Florida to purchase the Fort Harrison in 1975 for $3 million in cash. After the Times reported the purchases, Miscavige acknowledged the properties were bought for a second revitalization strategy one devised by the church. The city received an informal inquiry last year related to vacant land at the southeast corner of Seminole Street and North Fort Harrison Avenue. Cazares responds with an $8 million libel suit. Among them: make Clearwater known as the first Scientology city in the world.. But even when the church isnt in control, its presence can deter development. It teaches that expanding Scientology is key to saving the world, then wields a system of totalitarian policies to keep parishioners in line. 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. Among other things, Ozsan is, according to our source, Trish Duggans money manager. Hibbard previously served as Mayor from 2005 until 2012, leaving office because of term limits. 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. . He called the Tampa Bay Times questions about parishioners activity not just stupid, false and offensive, but un-American., You talk out of both sides of your mouth: If redevelopment is being done by the city or a member of another religion, not Scientology, it is good; if redevelopment is being done by a Scientologist, it is bad, Shaw said. A buyer, whose identity Chesney never learned, agreed to his asking price without countering $1 million cash for the adjoining parcels, which was four times the value set by the Pinellas County Property Appraiser. The Church of Scientology acquired the building in 2017 as part of its downtown redevelopment plan. GARCIA-NAVARRO: What do you mean billion year contracts? 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. The memos were later seized by the FBI. On Sept. 7, Epsteins employee was removed from the corporate filings of the company that own the land. Howd that go? The Church was unaware of the significant number of properties owned by Scientologists in the Clearwater area and are delighted you provided the information.. Scientology leader David Miscavige told city officials the properties were part of the churchs proposed retail redevelopment plan. None of the other parishioners whose companies bought property since 2017 responded to questions about their plans. About $15.9 million was paid in cash. katherine noelle wyman; cape breton post obituaries 2022. location symbol text in word; list of female jockeys australia; mike conley house columbus ohio address 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. Wayne E. Lee ran his Auto Parts Distributors business on Park Street since 1982. Reached at their condo, his wife declined to comment. Huestler said broker Terri Novitsky calls him every now and again to see if hed be interested in selling. ), [ Slideshow: See every building owned by the church ], In the 90s, a Scientology magazine listed the churchs goals for 2000. Asked directly whether Scientology orchestrated or paid for any of the sales, the church did not answer. The land grab started as tensions grew between the church and the Clearwater City Council. MCMANUS: Well, our reporting shows that Scientology has a big interest in preserving its downtown campus. And he was going to recruit high-end retail to some of the empty storefronts because downtown Clearwater's pretty depressed. 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 . The name the United Churches of Florida to purchase the Fort Harrison in,. 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