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. This makes no sense, except of course to a bigot.. A for-lease sign sits in long-vacant retail space at The SkyView condo tower, owned by Scientologist and developer Moises Agami. 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. 21 day forecast key west, florida. 'There is nothing unnatural about Scientologists wanting to live in the same city that houses the international spiritual headquarters of their church,' a letter signed by Scientology attorney Gary Soter to the Times said. Thomas Paine, Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. - Martin Luther King, The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. - Martin Luther King. Graphics by ELI MURRAY Times reporters built a database of hundreds of properties in the center of Clearwaters downtown. 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. Over the next four decades, the church gradually amassed 58 properties in Clearwater under its name, 49 of them downtown. Operatives framed the mayor in a staged hit-and-run and spread false rumors he was having an extramarital affair. 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 2016. Visitors are expected to stay in Scientologys hotels and eat at private church restaurants. 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. The churchs influence comes from the estimated $3 billion in cash and assets it has collected from its followers. 9,523 Scientologists live in the Tampa Bay area. But after he forwarded an email critical of the organization in 2012 to another parishioner, the church began an excommunication process that would have forced his partner of 24 years to stop working with him and his tenants to move out. I saw a business opportunity, Ezra said. The Church of Scientology has firmly made Clearwater, Floridaits home in the blink of an eye - shelling out $103million to sweep up 101 acres of the city's waterfront downtown area over the course of three years. ), [ Slideshow: See every building owned by the church ], In the 90s, a Scientology magazine listed the churchs goals for 2000. He had committed to downtown in 1997. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. The church now completely controls the heart of the city, save for a few condominium tower and buildings owned by the government, the Tampa Bay Times discovered after reviewing 1,000 deeds and business records, shocking city leaders and residents at the scope of the churchs dominance. In six cases, buyers made four times the propertys value deemed by the county property appraiser. Bosi wasnt interested. Tracey McManus is a Scientology reporter for the paper, and she joins us now. The church bought the 220-room hotel secretly in 1975, and since then, it has witnessed a number of unusual deaths. Some have donated millions to the church. They spent $6.5 million to renovate the public Seminole Boat Ramp, a popular centerpiece seen as a sign of the citys commitment. George Orwell's astonishing novel 1984 depicts a dystopian world that has many remarkable similarities to scientology. The Church of Scientology offered $15 . 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. GARCIA-NAVARRO: What is the view of the local community? Your email address will not be published. Members have to answer to their ethics officer for any act of disloyalty to Scientologys mission. Half the properties were bought since January 2017. About $15.9 million was paid in cash. Scientology has been accused of using the information as blackmail. 619 S Gulfview Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33767-2643. 307 S Myrtle Ave Frnt, Clearwater, FL 33756-5524 +1 727-446-3354 Website Menu. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. 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.. They started hosting concerts on the waterfront that now draw thousands. Since 2017, limited liability companies tied to the Church of Scientology have scooped up at least 100 properties on or near the downtown waterfront and approximately 60 others in residential. City officials have long hoped for private investors to transform the North Marina Area, a 13-block district with undeveloped lots and 100-year-old bungalows overlooking Clearwater Harbor. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists of professing to believe what he does not believe." During spiritual counseling, parishioners are interrogated about their deepest secrets, which are recorded in folders and stored indefinitely. All together, 32 companies bought 92 downtown properties since 2017. He demanded to see their financials, their board of directors. Clearwater, FL is the town literally owned by Scientologists, so checks out Reply . Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has purchased 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name. Andrus did not respond to a phone message or email inquiring if he was involved in the 45 purchases in the blocks surrounding his condo project. 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. What you know is what you know and to have the courage to know and say what you have observed".- LRH from Personal Integrity, "It is necessary to happiness of man, that he be mentally faithful to himself. Walking through Clearwater people will find vacant lots, an empty former jewelry store, an dead laundromat and an abandoned Walgreens. Big Brother is a character and symbol that represents a society where every citizen is under constant surveillance, constantly reminded of this by the slogan "Big . 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. In a letter to the Times, the church denied it ever tried to take control of the city. Jim is a nationally known artist. 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. The impact is clearest in the heart of downtown. Its members bought property on surrounding blocks. People arrive for the celebration of the opening of the new Scientology Flag Building on November 16, 2013 in Clearwater, Scientology boasts 10million followers, but surveys and accounts from former members suggest there are no more than 30,000 worldwide. Trending; . 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. #1 of 10 resorts in Clearwater. Miscaviges offer to revitalize downtown hinged on the city ending its attempt to buy one vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. by . When I have to go to that area, and see them in crowds moving from building to building doing their work ( whatever that is) I think of cockroaches, like whatever you do . Tom Cruise, a devout follower of Scientology, has been effectively 'homeless' since he put his homes in California and New York on the marketearning GBP 41.5million ($55 million) in the process. Breakfast options. 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. And inside those findings was a plan that Scientology operatives had created and written to establish area control. In this way Scientologists were able to buy properties without companies knowing they were behind it. Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? No one from the church dictates to me what to buy, what to sell, what to do.. Among other things, Ozsan is, according to our source, Trish Duggan's money manager. 0. For Sale: 500000 - Residential, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,315 sqft at 1359 HOWARD STREET in Clearwater South. He has not been arrested by the FBI; fined $10 million by the FTC for running a roach motel; is not facing criminal rape charges; is not dealing with class action lawsuits; and is not awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to felony insurance fraud. But far more non-Scientologists are moving out. The few that chose to speak on selling their property said they were approached by a Scientologist who made offers and paid in cash. This month, Shahab Emrani was elected to the Downtown Development Board, which helps promote downtown. He walked away with nothing. Stu Sjouwerman is defying the trend for Scientologists in the past year. They paid $26 million. Letsgetstarted. In September, Andrus completed construction there on Marina Bay 880, two towers that hug the marina with 87 luxury condos and amenities like an Olympic-sized pool and sauna. The Church takes seriously its responsibility and interest in the future of the area. 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. ', Freedom Magazine is a Scientology produced publication. The Church of Scientology is a group of interconnected corporate entities and other organizations devoted to the practice, administration and dissemination. It said information in parishioner folders is sacrosanct and claims of blackmail have long since been disproven.. The gallery does not include properties bought by companies run by church members. Ever since then the church stopped communicating with the city, and the rapid land grab commenced. Im concerned, Mayor Frank Hibbard said. and last updated 7:53 PM, Oct 21, 2019. The church has shed no light on its plans. New Pasco County commissioner accused of faking his residency, Guide to Plant Citys Strawberry Festival, one of the largest festivals in the nation, Gov. You are told not to discuss politics or religion and one of the first things out of the CEO's mouth is that he is a Scientologist. Delk described the projects which require voter approval as key to the plans success. MCMANUS: Brokers representing these companies were approaching downtown property owners. Discover a selection of more than 10,000 vacation rentals near Church of Scientology, Clearwater that are perfect for your trip. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Ukraine soldiers shoot down enemy drones with drones of their own, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA. "Then we realized our hotel room must have been bugged." After bolting from the center, $23,000 poorer, the Rowes say, they were chased repeatedly by Scientologists on foot and in cars. In a letter, the church said the Times is misinterpreting Scientology policy and that other religions also practice shunning. You have some buyers here that their motivations are not really clear, he said, so its tough to make economic sense out of it.. 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. In summer 2018, Fischler walked into Bob Lees Auto Repair on Park Street to make owner Dennis Bosi an offer. 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. Scientologists make up a diverse group in Clearwater. ), 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. Were she in Utah, would the Times intrepid reporter have headlined that 'Mormons are buying up property in downtown Salt Lake City!' The church acquired three others in a land swap. Thirteen were existing tenants when he bought the properties. 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. I really appreciate you all giving up your time to, Mike was probably getting a slew of YSCOHB texts from DM. The Times used the date that transactions were recorded in Clerk of Courts official record as the date of sale. The Mission: Impossible - Fallout star plans to call an elaborate penthouse, complete with a private swimming pool and garden, his new home. Clarion Inn & Suites Central Clearwater Beach. AND it is NOT in a Flood Zone! The city has no record yet of redevelopment plans being submitted for any of the North Marina properties since the purchases began, according to planning and development director Gina Clayton. Most of the new owners have done little with their acquisitions. Did you do your taxes? I believe its irrational to buy property and not fully utilize it.. Right now, at least 30 businesses owned by non-parishioners are renting from Scientologists. 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. Did you check your W-2? About 72 percent of those properties are tax exempt for religious uses. 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. Weve spent a lot of happy years here, Lares said. Then he would try again, with new council members. When will the Beast from the East be at YOUR door? 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. The church offered $15 million for the parcel. Scientology in Clearwater Big Brother is Watching You. Scientology is a snitching culture and it's deeply embedded.) GARCIA-NAVARRO: So clearly they wanted these properties a great deal. Conspiracy theories are nothing new when it comes to the Church of Scientology. MCMANUS: It kind of started in early 2017. Miscavige cut off communication with the city. 20, 2019. Scientology has said it has 10 million followers, but surveys and accounts from former members suggest there are no more than 30,000 worldwide. If people all over the world would do this, it would change the earth." GARCIA-NAVARRO: And we reached out to the Church of Scientology about the Tampa Bay Times report. Fischler, a local real estate agent, negotiated at least 10 of the downtown deals, according to interviews with sellers. Religious Technology Center (RTC) is the primary manager of Scientology intellectual property. You have well connected, https://m.facebook.com/jobs/job-opening/332924608432320/, Scientology a cult of lies scientology a cult of lies, https://www.mikerindersblog.org/scientology-businesses-in-clearwater/, Dealing With Scientology Critics - L Ron Hubbard Playbook, Buzzazz Business Solutions (Keanan Kintzel), Consumer Sales Solutions (Tom Cummins and Jim Bridgeforth), MGE Management Experts (Luis Colon, Greg Winteregg), Nelson Construction and Renovations (Gregory Nelson), NTC Nationwide Title Clearing (John Hillman, Todd Kugler, Norm Novitsky), Root Cause Medical Clinic (Rick and Vikki Petersen), Ted McGrath Brands (Jasmin Napier daughter-in-law of Mike Napier), The Tub Guy (Randy and Molly Baxter, she is the former CO FOLO EUS), Silkin Management Group (located in Portland OR), USA Tree Service LLC (Jim and Karen Kettner). And half the sales were for more than double what the properties were valued by the county property appraiser, the Times found. Visit hotel website. February 27, 2023 7:03 PM. If it is boring you, please dont waste your time coming here. 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. the Church of Scientology and Clearwater is incapable of being an honest hard-working partner with the city of Clearwater in revitalizing this town it's not possible because it's against their fundamental best interests this is the reason all of the Scientologists in the in Clearwater were instructed by the Office of Special Affairs to . You'll find plenty of sites, activities, and attractions to explore near our pet-friendly Clearwater hotel, including downtown Tampa and downtown St. Petersburg, which is only 30 minutes away, Celebration Station, Honeymoon Island State Park, Clearwater Beach, Caladesi Island State Park, and Busch Gardens. (Everything owned by parishioner-run companies is still on the tax rolls. 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) Though most of the representatives of the 32 companies who purchased the downtown real estate in the past few years, few gave comment on their purchase and claimed Scientology wasnt a factor in the land buy. Not so shipshape! A few months later, the newcomers admitted they were actually Scientology. Why does this matter? 'However, it hasnt always been clear to me as to just what does that actually mean.'. TRACEY MCMANUS: Hi, Lulu. High-ranking defectors provide an unprecedented inside look at Scientology, its leader and the Lisa McPherson case. Church of Scientology campus in Clearwater, Fla. mokee81/iStock The Church of Scientology, its members and companies controlled by its members have spent $103 million over the past three. And in 1977, the FBI raided Scientology's headquarters in LA and D.C. And they uncovered hundreds of thousands of memos and documents. '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 added. Thank you for having us. Minkoff had his medical license suspended for a year after it . But the promised downtown revival never came. In addition, more is planned to occur on the "Ides of march" (March 15th) Which also happens to be L. Ron Hubbard's . The reason lies in rising tensions between the church and the Clearwater City Council. That's the HQ of Scientology. The Tampa Bay Times reported that the church, including members and employees, now own 185 properties that encompass more than 101 acres in downtown Clearwater, located west of Tampa and sitting. Rebecca and Uri's father is Dr. David Minkoff, a physician and Church of Scientology member, who was partly implicated in Lisa McPherson's 1995 death. CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) 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 Clearwater. Concerned he wouldnt be able to pay his mortgage, Argall said he deeded the building, appraised at $780,000, back to the previous owner. It is headed by David Miscavige [1] . They have control over what businesses, if any, come in. Has the Church of Scientology ever killed anyone? We own a tremendous amount of material and so forth, and it keeps growing. Trump congratulates Justin Trudeau on winning a second term Three soldiers died when their tank fell off a bridge into a Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, TN residents say Jack Daniel's distillery spews black mold, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' Show more. Just make more income with Scientology. Hillsborough forms had errors, 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. 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. The church has amassed 60 properties in Pinellas County since arriving in 1975. The stick out moment, is Tom Cruise auditing Marc, and failing., The live Q & A had great questions and answers. Then,. Even as Scientologys footprint expanded, and nearby Clearwater Beach became one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States, downtown businesses struggled to stay open. The Jerry Maguire star recently purchased a two-storey penthouse in downtown Clearwater, Floridaclose to the Scientology HQ. Now, 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. I had to make a decision, Bosi said. Since 2017, the Church of Scientology and companies run by its members have bought 92 properties around the center of downtown. Mike Rinder, who led Scientologys intelligence arm before defecting in 2007, said any property owned by a parishioner is in the churchs control. Anonymous "members" have stated it was a great success with at least 3 Scientology members being arrested for assault, when the scientologists grabbed and attempted to remove protesters' masks. Typically, when people buy commercial real estate, they move forward with construction or redevelopment. 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.