When the city was considering buying the aquariums lot, Miscavige threatened to stop communicating until the 2020 election, when term limits would force most of the council out of office. And the mayor at the time, Gabe Cazares, really raised the alarm. 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. And it's all surrounding the city's downtown waterfront. 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. A deserted coin laundry. Made an offer. Both have been there for decades. 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. What Clearwaters City Council thinks, Scientologys 40 years of conflict with Clearwater, recapped, See a slideshow of all the churchs buildings. 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. Thats not happening with almost any of these properties., But Tal Ezra, a Scientologist who recently bought four parcels of land in downtown Clearwater, told the Times that he has plans for an office space and a retail shop. The owner of a nationwide company that makes and markets aloe vera skin cream. Part of the reason for that is because they have this Sea Org that works full time and is paid less than $50 a week. Soters comment evokes for us what Captain Renault said in Casablanca: Im shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!. Since July 2019, eight limited liability companies managed or operatedby members of the church have bought 45 properties in North Marina, including Chesneys. Many of their properties weren't listed for sale. Holding and president of Graymoss, Inc. [27] The architectural firm HOK was hired to deliver the project. Agami also signed two more leases on the same block with restaurants owned by people not connected to the church. The greatest number of properties were bought by companies controlled by either Israeli businessman Itzhak Zano or another Scientologist who represents him. But in the 70s, Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in Scientologys government espionage scheme, which sent 11 Scientologists to federal prison. Welcome. MCMANUS: Scientology arrived in downtown Clearwater in 1975. But even when the church isnt in control, its presence can deter development. Flag is supposed to be an insulated oasis. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So tell me about these land purchases. Those six lots were bought in November 2020 by a limited liability company then-managed by an employee of CA South, a Nashville-based real estate firm founded by Megan Epstein and advised by her husband, Stephen Epstein, both members of Scientology. Delk described the projects which require voter approval as key to the plans success. High-ranking defectors provide an unprecedented inside look at Scientology, its leader and the Lisa McPherson case. He had committed to downtown in 1997. And he was going to recruit high-end retail to some of the empty storefronts because downtown Clearwater's pretty depressed. But David Kerr, a local real estate agent and parishioner, walked in one day with 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. MCMANUS: Well, our reporting shows that Scientology has a big interest in preserving its downtown campus. 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. Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? Over the next four decades, the church gradually amassed 58 properties in Clearwater under its name, 49 of them downtown. 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. Lee sold when Fischler upped her offer to $410,000 cash for the building valued at $109,000 by the property appraiser. Advance! CBRE is an acronym for CB Richard Ellis. Looking at the Times map of the new ownership, City Council member David Allbritton recalled a moment from 2017 that now seems telling. I would ask that you clarify the reference to CBRE. [1] He told Fischler that before Scientology bought the Fort Harrison Hotel in 1975 he worked there as a busboy. 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. They paid $26 million. They spent $6.5 million to renovate the public Seminole Boat Ramp, a popular centerpiece seen as a sign of the citys commitment. If Epsteins client was not the Church of Scientology then who is his client? For example, David Miscaviges personal lawyer of 35 years Monique Yingling has never been a Scientologist. By then, the churchs intelligence unit was already deploying an elaborate scheme to establish area control in the city. All they did was act like children and make crude sex/homophobic/racial jokes about being raped, gangbanged, etc. In interviews, sellers said most of the transactions unfolded the same way. This gallery shows all 60 properties Scientology owns under its name in Pinellas county and six additional retail properties the church acquired through limited liability companies in 2017. . 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. He owns Stonebridge Real Estate and served as president of the Florida Gulfcoast Commercial Association of Realtors in 2017. And $99 million of the $103 million in real-estate deals over the past three years were in cash. 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 . In January and February 2017, a handful of limited liability companies bought six prime downtown parcels. The total of all Scientology-connected Clearwater real estate purchases $114.8 million. Spa not owned by a Scientologist. When the council voted to buy the property, the chamber erupted in applause. 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. 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 more its isolated and doesnt have people who are non-Scientologists around the area, the better.. 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. Hayes, the attorney and parishioner involved in the rest of the North Marina purchases, was added as manager on the companies filings. (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. Mike Rinder, who led Scientologys intelligence arm before defecting in 2007, said any property owned by a parishioner is in the churchs control. 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. Businesses might see this city project and say, yeah, let me take a chance on downtown and open up a business. Although Zano is not well known in Clearwater, the companies spent $16.7 million acquiring 26 commercial properties downtown. Where did all that money come from? 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. They haven't started construction - or are they going to redevelop them and bring businesses in and contribute to a vibrant downtown? More interesting is that the 15 parcels of land Riley plans acquire in Clearwater are owned by Scientologists. Osman Ozsan has been a Scientologist since the 1990s. 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 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. Andrus did not respond to an email, phone message, a note left at his office or a certified letter. 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. This purchase was part of Project Normandy, a covert Scientology program to take over Clearwater. While theres no law against hanging onto property, developers typically buy land, build on it and sell it for profit. The church also targeted the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Justice and scores of foreign governments. Please! Longtime City Manager Bill Horne said he cant tell whether the church wants the same thing. Im concerned, Mayor Frank Hibbard said. 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. Hes still holding out. However, it hasnt always been clear to me as to just what does that actually mean.. Members have to answer to their ethics officer for any act of disloyalty to Scientologys mission. 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. 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. Scientologist normally dont deal with outsiders in my experience. Seventy-three percent of the property is tax-exempt for religious purposes. They have completed courses and spiritual counseling that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Over the past two years, the properties surrounding the shop have been sold to Scientologist-controlled companies. Thats not happening with almost any of these properties., [ More reaction: What Clearwaters City Council thinks about Scientologys downtown takeover ]. Here is a map showing the parcels in purple which Riley is acquiring: We have previously offered our opinion that the $102 million in Downtown Clearwater land purchases made by Scientologists came from GPB Capital Holdings. Good luck on that. I just was curious if this is possibly a decent job or if EVERY scientologist owned company is a recruiting scam. Flag is run by the churchs full-time workforce, the Sea Org, whose members sign billion-year contracts and work around the clock. Council members were less delighted by the discovery, however especially since many of the lots and storefronts purchased by owners with Scientology ties are sitting vacant while the Clearwater City Council aims to turn the downtown waterfront into a dining and entertainment destination. In 2017 the church acquired six downtown Clearwater retail properties through limited liability companies. 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. They keep their operations going. Real estate offices, vitamin shops and vacant storefronts fill prime locations that in a more vibrant downtown might hold breweries, restaurants and boutiques. 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. But his offer had a catch. It is headed by David Miscavige [1] . In the world of scientologywhere anything goes and all laws in the wog world by damnedits Christmas 24/7. How Riley made the jump from a regional Coldwell Banker slot in Arizona to suddenly handling a proposed $350 million Clearwater Marina District development is certainly interesting and raises questions we are looking into. But now these LLCs tied to Scientology control the retail district. For the first time, a majority of the boards members will be Scientologists. 2. And our analysis found that these church officials were offering two, three, four times what the property appraiser said the properties were valued. Coincident with this Riley-registered RSR Capital Advisors as an LLC in Florida on March 21, 2022. He has also lived in Hong Kong and South Korea. February 27, 2023 endeavor air pilot contract No Comments . Fischler, a local real estate agent, negotiated at least 10 of the downtown deals, according to interviews with sellers. 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