The other side of that is flag is run by the Sea Org, the Scientology's full-time workforce. They now own most commercial property on every block within walking distance of the waterfront. 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. Made an offer. The downtown and North Marina properties bought by limited liability companies managed or operated by members of Scientology remain on the tax rolls. Disloyalty has life-changing consequences. Most did not respond or declined to comment. They now own most commercial property. However, it hasnt always been clear to me as to just what does that actually mean.. The greatest number of properties were bought by companies controlled by either Israeli businessman Itzhak Zano or another Scientologist who represents him. The church requires followers to shun family members, friends and business contacts who defy it. Epstein declined to name his client but responded to questions from the Times with an affidavit declaring it was not the Church of Scientology. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email along with 7129 other subscribers. It teaches that expanding Scientology is key to saving the world, then wields a system of totalitarian policies to keep parishioners in line. She estimated that around a quarter of the . The Church of Scientology and companies run by its members have spent $103 million since 2017 buying about 100 properties. About $15.9 million was paid in cash. Fischler, a local real estate agent, negotiated at least 10 of the downtown deals, according to interviews with sellers. She said, Well, well have to invite you down for dinner, he recalled. 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. We interpret it as the Tampa Bay Times getting too close for Mr. Epsteins comfort. Real estate offices, vitamin shops and vacant storefronts fill prime locations that in a more vibrant downtown might hold breweries, restaurants and boutiques. Theyve got one intention, and one intention only, De Vocht said. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. He told Fischler that before Scientology bought the Fort Harrison Hotel in 1975 he worked there as a busboy. (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. 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.. 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. He promoted the site to about 75 hoteliers and developers across the country. Scientology came to downtown Clearwater in 1975. 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. It appears that Project Normandy is still operational. A broker who was a Scientologist approached a downtown property owner. Asked directly whether Scientology orchestrated or paid for any of the sales, the church did not answer. More interesting is that the 15 parcels of land Riley plans acquire in Clearwater are owned by Scientologists. By then, the churchs intelligence unit was already deploying an elaborate scheme to establish area control in the city. Please consider supporting us with a tax-deductible donation to the Tampa Bay Times Investigative Fund. Of the $103 million spent, $99 million was paid in cash. What's more, the Times found a Scientology magazine from the 1990s that listed goals for the new millennium. I would ask that you clarify the reference to CBRE. In six cases, buyers paid quadruple the propertys value. 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. 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. The Church is the largest property taxpayer in downtown Clearwater, paying nearly $1 million in property taxes last year. A broker is trying to buy the building Peter and Emily Lares have owned for decades. An elevated walkway connects the building to the Fort Harrison Hotel, the churchs first purchase in the city in 1975. In late 2020, Terri Novitsky also was elected to the Downtown Development Board, an advisory group tasked with promoting downtown. Scientologists annually contribute $87,867,000 to charitable endeavors, money that uplifts the quality of life in Clearwater. Im concerned, Mayor Frank Hibbard said. GARCIA-NAVARRO: What is the view of the local community? 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. Scientologists living in Clearwater span the gamut of professional life . Many of the properties werent on the market. Four high-ranking defectors describe bizarre behavior and physical beatings inflicted by Scientology leader David Miscavige. Soters comment evokes for us what Captain Renault said in Casablanca: Im shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!. 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) We built a graphic demonstrating just how little is left. 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. Terri Novitsky and Hayes did not return calls and emails requesting comment. He is not listed on the corporate filings for any of the eight limited liability companies that recently bought the North Marina properties. Additional Clearwater real estate purchases began in 2019. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. #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. Its designed not for recruiting new members but for hosting established followers. About 72 percent of those properties are tax exempt for religious uses. Inc. magazine's 2019 report on the 5,000 fastest-growing privately owned businesses in America cites 16 firms based in Clearwater. I had to make a decision, Bosi said. 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? They came in under a fake name to buy the Fort Harrison Hotel, a historic hotel right in the center of downtown. We previously reported on CA South Development. And in 1977, the FBI raided Scientology's headquarters in LA and D.C. And they uncovered hundreds of thousands of memos and documents. Our opinion is that Riley was instructed to get ahead of the story by bringing up Scientology before he was asked about it. 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. Hormel says inflation, supply chain issues and weak sales hit earnings, Macy's shares surge as retailer posts earnings well ahead of forecasts, A supposed Scientology cruise ship is quarantined in St. Lucia over measles, Saturday Night Live star Chloe Fineman says Lorne Michaels gave her the best financial advice, As Republicans further intensify Hunter Biden focus, Attorney General Garland insists hes remained hands-off in years-old investigation, Teslas stock falls 5% as Elon Musks Master Plan 3 is short on details about both cars and finances, What's next for bonds in 2023 after the worst year in history. $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. (Everything owned by parishioner-run companies is still on the tax rolls. 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. During that period, downtown purchases by limited liability companies managed by members of Scientology accelerated. He walked away with nothing. In a letter to the Times, the church denied it ever tried to take control of the city. 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. For example, David Miscaviges personal lawyer of 35 years Monique Yingling has never been a Scientologist. Help us keep bringing stories like this to you. The church attracts members through a theology of self improvement and understanding. But far more non-Scientologists are moving out. He publicly asked why there were security cards with billy clubs and mace on the roof. There is no discrimination for or against *any* religion. 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. and last updated 7:53 PM, Oct 21, 2019. It was owned by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The total of all Scientology-connected Clearwater real estate purchases $114.8 million. They adopted a master plan in 2016 that envisioned housing, a hotel and shopping to complement what they hope will be Clearwaters revitalized downtown less than a mile to the south. 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. Real estate agent David Kerr represented a buyer that paid more than three times what a property was valued by the county property appraiser. In interviews, sellers said most of the transactions unfolded the same way. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler, a Scientologist, called and showed up to the shop a handful of times in mid-2018. Even city leaders said they didnt know the full extent of the purchases until they were shown maps created by the Times. Seventy-three percent of the property is tax-exempt for religious purposes. GARCIA-NAVARRO: What do you mean billion year contracts? You have some buyers here that their motivations are not really clear, he said, so its tough to make economic sense out of it.. Epstein could have simply told the reporter his client was not the Church of Scientology and left it at that. 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. In the world of poker this is called a tell. It would be the same if I was a (proud) Christian, Jew, or Muslim. On Sept. 7, Epsteins employee was removed from the corporate filings of the company that own the land. Typically, when people buy commercial real estate, they move forward with construction or redevelopment. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. And half the sales were for more than double what the properties were valued by the county property appraiser, the Times found. The campus collects millions each week through fundraising and payments for expensive courses and high-level religious counseling not offered anywhere else. I saw a business opportunity, Ezra said. 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. We will continue research on our new Trish Duggan theory. . We also hold the distinction of being the first Scientology Church in the Southern Hemisphere. The church has shed no light on its plans. Seventy-one percent of the 60 parcels the Church of Scientology owns under its name in Pinellas County are tax-exempt for religious purposes. The Florida Secretary of State records show the firm went dormant in 2012. 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 An old jewelry store on the corner of Cleveland Street that welcomes visitors to the core of downtown sits empty, unchanged since a company managed by a Church of Scientology. They doubled the churchs footprint in less than three years. The impact is clearest in the heart of downtown. 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. Accuracy and availability may vary. Taking into account these denials, we now have a new opinion to offer our readers. Reached at their condo, his wife declined to comment. . Hayes, the attorney and parishioner involved in the rest of the North Marina purchases, was added as manager on the companies filings. 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 parishioners - a doubling of the church's footprint near its international headquarters. 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. It does not include properties recently bought by companies run by church members. GPB Capital Holdings: Court-Appointed Monitors Report on Q4 2022 Activities. pauline hanson dancing with the stars; just jerk dance members; what happens if a teacher gets a dui Local TV station WTSP reports. ), [ Slideshow: See every building owned by the church ], In the 90s, a Scientology magazine listed the churchs goals for 2000. 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. Half the properties were bought since January 2017. 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. 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. 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. More reaction: What Clearwaters City Council thinks about Scientologys downtown takeover, The full history: Scientologys 40 years of conflict with the City of Clearwater, recapped, Slideshow: See every building owned by the church, Scientologys 40 years of conflict with Clearwater, recapped, See a slideshow of all the churchs buildings. And it's also basically the financial nucleus of the entire organization. ARKWRIGHT ROAD LIMITED Good luck on that. Rileys Clearwater Marina District development has a $350 million price tag on it. Osman Ozsan is, in our opinion, one of the more notable Scientologists youve never heard of. But the couple isnt ready to let go. Former parishioners say the church has a history of interfering in Scientologists downtown business. At first, I just wanted to make a short video about the buildings and programs they are doing in clearwater. The few willing to answer questions said Scientology has no influence on their real estate dealings. Some have donated millions to the church. Dozens of residents showed up to speak. A few weeks later, John Yarbrough sold the building where he had run his electrical services business for 22 years. According to his resume, he started the firm in 2003. The memos were later seized by the FBI. Both have been there for decades. Both are supposed to open soon. He saw the area improve when police cracked down on drugs and prostitution decades ago. These workers sign billion year contracts, are paid very little, work around the clock. The churchs influence comes from the estimated $3 billion in cash and assets it has collected from its followers. Almost all of the properties were quietly bought through limited liability companies required to disclose their operators but not their owners as is pretty standard in real estate. And inside those findings was a plan that Scientology operatives had created and written to establish area control. Delk described the projects which require voter approval as key to the plans success. 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. Thats not happening with almost any of these properties., [ More reaction: What Clearwaters City Council thinks about Scientologys downtown takeover ]. (I'm in Clearwater). Can you give me a sense of the scale and how they have made this happen with the relatively little fanfare over the years? It said information in parishioner folders is sacrosanct and claims of blackmail have long since been disproven.. Wayne E. Lee ran his Auto Parts Distributors business on Park Street since 1982. Gentile also purchased several Clearwater companies owned by Scientologists who may have invested the proceeds into land deals. All five City Council members said they doubted the rash of purchases were unrelated. You are a fundamentalist Scientologist, or youre not one at all.. 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. And the Times found that in six cases buyers paid quadruple a propertys value. 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. Both the Church of Scientology and GPB Capital denied it. Typically, when people buy commercial real estate, they move forward with construction or redevelopment. The gallery does not include properties bought by companies run by church members. A lot of them are vacant lots, vacant buildings, empty storefronts. Then he would try again, with new council members. But after a dispute with the city, Miscavige cut communication. After leaving Caliber Wells, Rodney Riley began working with Megan and Stephen Epstein. My plan is to keep renting, Huestler said. 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. Pros. Agami also signed two more leases on the same block with restaurants owned by people not connected to the church. MCMANUS: Yeah, that's a good question. Investigative journalism like this is the most expensive work that we do. They have completed courses and spiritual counseling that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. He has also lived in Hong Kong and South Korea. Clarification made on CBRE and thank you for pointing that out. The spa's website makes it clear that, "In fact, we are, by definition, a Christian based business.". All together, 32 companies bought 92 downtown properties since 2017. This is a story for another time. 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 . It set aside $10 million for secret real estate purchases in Clearwater. Fischler approached Bosi again in September. The new owners also are sitting on about 30 undeveloped lots. There's parishioners that come here from all over the world to take courses in high level auditing that's not offered anywhere else. 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