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</div></div></header></div></body></html>";s:4:"text";s:29737:"New details about the case of Lisa McPherson, who died in the care of Scientologists, from the executive who directed the Church of Scientologys handling of the case. In response to detailed memos summarizing the reporting, the church criticized the Times for portraying its members as mindless robots and for having a preconceived agenda to present every Scientology story in a false and unfavorable light.. The pattern of Scientology-tied companies buying so many properties and sitting on them &quot;flies in the face of most land economics,&quot; said Tobias, who has been appraising property in Pinellas County for 50 years. Lee sold when Fischler upped her offer to $410,000 cash for the building valued at $109,000 by the property appraiser. City officials are trying to make the area a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. 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. They have completed courses and spiritual counseling that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. (On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Times reported that since 2017, companies run by members of Scientology bought another 86 downtown commercial properties. 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. Companies controlled by Hayes have bought about half the property on Rices block and nearly the entire block directly south. Almost immediately, a decades-long trickle of purchases by church members turned into a flood.  Longtime City Manager Bill Horne said he cant tell whether the church wants the same thing. (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. One of these accounts shows discretionary assets of $134.77 million. Times Staff WritersOct. After his stint at CBRE, Riley worked for Caliber Wells in Scottsdale, Arizona and then left the firm. The church attracts members through a theology of self improvement and understanding. 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. The new owners also are sitting on about 30 undeveloped lots. Another Scientologist, Rick Argall, owned a building on downtowns Garden Avenue that housed six Scientologist-run businesses, including a chiropractic clinic he operated with a fellow church member.  Coincident with this Riley-registered RSR Capital Advisors as an LLC in Florida on March 21, 2022.   Please consider supporting us with a tax-deductible donation to the Tampa Bay Times Investigative Fund. Mike Rinder, who led Scientologys intelligence arm before defecting in 2007, said any property owned by a parishioner is in the churchs control. I saw a business opportunity, Ezra said. Among other things, Ozsan is, according to our source, Trish Duggans money manager. How much of Clearwater is owned by Scientology? You are a fundamentalist Scientologist, or youre not one at all.. 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 . We reported at that time that a handful of limited liability companies bought about six downtown properties, and Scientology leader David Miscavige had presented a retail plan to two city staff officials. Scientologys extraordinary influence over its members has been documented in government investigations and testimony from former parishioners throughout its 65-year history. Florida executes Donald Dillbeck for 1990 Tallahassee murder, Held without charge, a Miami inmates unborn child asks court for release in odd case, One step led Tampa runner, Gasparilla entrant to big weight loss, huge life gains, Hillsborough must right-size its school system | Editorial, companies tied to Scientology bought 100 properties, Winter the dolphin died of twisted intestines, necropsy report confirms. Both the Church of Scientology and GPB Capital denied it. Scientologists deal with useful non-Scientologists quite often. 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. He is linked to the Church of Scientology via the Epsteins and Trish Duggan. I believe its irrational to buy property and not fully utilize it.. . He told Fischler that before Scientology bought the Fort Harrison Hotel in 1975 he worked there as a busboy. 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. 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. can t use carpenter&#x27;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  Most did not respond or declined to comment. Riley is also working with Gensler on the development. Scientology came to downtown Clearwater in 1975. synergy rv transport pay rate; stephen randolph todd. Hayes, the attorney and parishioner involved in the rest of the North Marina purchases, was added as manager on the companies filings. And $99 million of the $103 million in real-estate deals over the past three years were in cash. It is headed by David Miscavige [1] . GARCIA-NAVARRO: So tell me about these land purchases. Seventy-one percent of the 60 parcels the Church of Scientology owns under its name in Pinellas County are tax-exempt for religious purposes.  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. This is a big giveaway in our view. Thank you very much. The report notes that half of these properties have been bought since January 2017  after the organization and the Clearwater City Council presented competing redevelopment projects to the downtown district and its waterfront. Should we cut my sister out of the family inheritance? 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. Asked directly whether Scientology orchestrated or paid for any of the sales, the church did not answer. Epstein declined to name his client but responded to questions from the Times with an affidavit declaring it was not the Church of Scientology.  MCMANUS: Right - because the city officials have said that there's only so many factors they control. 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. I think it throws a stake in it when one party owns 50 percent or so. Over half are owned or operated by Scientologists. (Everything owned by parishioner-run companies is still on the tax rolls. 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. Since July 2019, eight limited liability companies managed or operatedby members of the church have bought 45 properties in North Marina, including Chesneys. In late 2020, Terri Novitsky also was elected to the Downtown Development Board, an advisory group tasked with promoting downtown. The more its isolated and doesnt have people who are non-Scientologists around the area, the better.. Some have donated millions to the church. 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. DEUTERIUM INVESTMENT ADVISORS LIMITED They posted guards wielding billy clubs and mace. Investigative journalism like this is the most expensive work that we do. Flag is supposed to be an insulated oasis. 1. No one from the church dictates to me what to buy, what to sell, what to do.. It is all so convenient for Rodney that it appears to be scripted.   Andrus helped carry out a plan to stop a Scientologist who had spied on the federal government from turning himself in to the FBI. The church acquired three others in a land swap. There's parishioners that come here from all over the world to take courses in high level auditing that's not offered anywhere else. They doubled the churchs footprint in less than three years. Instead, the aquarium sold it to the city in April 2017 for a lot less  $4.25 million. 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. I would ask that you clarify the reference to CBRE. Both have been there for decades. Story by TRACEY McMANUS 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. Tyler Rice has run Carillon Flooring Center on North Fort Harrison for 30 years, the business his father started there in 1964. 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. Advance! Fifty-eight are in the city of Clearwater and 49 are downtown.. 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. ), [ Slideshow: See every building owned by the church ], In the 90s, a Scientology magazine listed the churchs goals for 2000. CONNIE HUMBURG, TRACEY McMANUS, ELI MURRAY, ELI ZHANG | Times. 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. 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. But the promised downtown revival never came. Scientology has been accused of using the information as blackmail. 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. Among them was to make Clearwater known as the first Scientology city in the world.. And yes, everyone that works here is asked to keep politics and religion out . Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email along with 7129 other subscribers. The analysis did not include residential parcels except in cases where they were bought in conjunction with commercial property or vacant land. A broker who was a Scientologist approached a downtown property owner. AMI&#x27;s culture and team members truly make AMI an amazing place to work! Fischler approached Bosi again in September. In interviews, sellers said most of the transactions unfolded the same way. Additional Clearwater real estate purchases began in 2019. Thirteen were existing tenants when he bought the properties. DEUTERIUM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED In six cases, buyers paid quadruple the propertys value. We built a graphic demonstrating just how little is left. We interpret it as the Tampa Bay Times getting too close for Mr. Epsteins comfort. Melitta coffee filters are manufactured in Clearwater, Florida. Former parishioners say the church has a history of interfering in Scientologists downtown business. Good luck on that. By then, the churchs intelligence unit was already deploying an elaborate scheme to establish area control in the city. The spa&#x27;s website makes it clear that, &quot;In fact, we are, by definition, a Christian based business.&quot;. In January and February 2017, a handful of limited liability companies bought six prime downtown parcels. And half the sales were for more than double what the properties were valued by the county property appraiser, the Times found. 9,523 Scientologists live in the Tampa Bay area. 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. You have some buyers here that their motivations are not really clear, he said, so its tough to make economic sense out of it..  That's the findings of a story in the Tampa Bay Times that's headlined clear takeover. Its too soon to say how the shift in ownership will affect downtown. During spiritual counseling, parishioners are interrogated about their deepest secrets, which are recorded in folders and stored indefinitely. Florida migrant flights lawsuit dismissed in wake of Legislature passing law, Editorial Cartoons for Thursday from Times Wire Services, Bucs new coordinator is confident! 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. An elevated walkway connects the building to the Fort Harrison Hotel, the churchs first purchase in the city in 1975. Tampa Bay Times reporter Tracey McManus has spent the last four years writing about Scientology and the churchs relationship with the city of Clearwater. 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. katherine noelle wyman; cape breton post obituaries 2022. location symbol text in word; list of female jockeys australia; mike conley house columbus ohio address Theyve got one intention, and one intention only, De Vocht said. High-ranking defectors provide an unprecedented inside look at Scientology, its leader and the Lisa McPherson case. 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. The Church was unaware of the land purchases? Made an offer. Osman Ozsan is of interest to us because he is connected to Rod Riley, a non-Scientologist realtor and real estate developer from Arizona. I saw a business opportunity, he said. 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. Subscribe to our free Stephinitely newsletter. Much of downtown Clearwater is now owned by people or companies tied to Scientology, a report finds. Scientologist normally dont deal with outsiders in my experience. February 27, 2023 endeavor air pilot contract No Comments . He is not listed on the corporate filings for any of the eight limited liability companies that recently bought the North Marina properties. Write by: . Block after block, vacant lots sit untouched, and storefronts remain empty: A former jewelry store. Do you own your house? Spa not owned by a Scientologist. I had to make a decision, Bosi said. Help us keep bringing stories like this to you. TRACEY MCMANUS: Hi, Lulu. Dozens of residents showed up to speak. In Mesa, its the Mormon Church that dominates the area and I was able to work in that environment. 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. A deserted coin laundry. Riley had no reason to mention that he had worked with Mormons and will now work to communicate with the Scientologists in Clearwater. This reads like deliberately premanufactured PR to us. They were very secretive, he said. And he was going to build an entertainment complex with Tom Cruise. Although that arrangement is standard in real estate, it makes it impossible to know whether the properties are owned by the Scientologists who manage the companies, the wealthy church or another hidden party. Church officials used a straw corporation to buy the historic Fort Harrison Hotel and moved in under a fake name. On Sept. 7, Epsteins employee was removed from the corporate filings of the company that own the land. $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&#x27;s GPB Capital Holdings. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has bought 60 . All they did was act like children and make crude sex/homophobic/racial jokes about being raped, gangbanged, etc. Scientology has said it has 10 million followers, but surveys and accounts from former members suggest there are no more than 30,000 worldwide. My sister is always struggling with money and drugs: I own a house with my husband and mother. 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. My plan is to keep renting, Huestler said. (I&#x27;m in Clearwater). This makes no sense, except of course to a bigot.. City officials say their dedication to redeveloping the waterfront hasnt changed. Suspicion swirled. CEO Approval. They now own most commercial property on every block within walking distance of the waterfront. They have control over what businesses, if any, come in. Many of the properties werent on the market when the deals were made. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. Once we dug into the data and pulled records, we found that LLCs tied to the Church of Scientology had bought about 100 properties. An empty Walgreens. Why does this matter? Rodney Riley is the CEO of RSR Capital Advisors in Clearwater, Florida. It is a big faux pas in business PR to bring up the subject of religion when it is absolutely unnecessary to do so. Getty. And inside those findings was a plan that Scientology operatives had created and written to establish area control. This purchase was part of Project Normandy, a covert Scientology program to take over Clearwater. The Church of Scientology and companies run by its members have spent $103 million since 2017 buying about 100 properties. Nearly all of the roughly two dozen people listed as operating the companies are Scientologists. 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. Fischler did not respond to phone messages, a certified letter or a note left at her condo. The church offered $15 million for the parcel. David Gentile is creative with money and had hundreds of bank accounts and sub-funds when he ran GPB Capital.  Scientology leader David Miscavige had his own redevelopment plan. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. ANTIFRAGILE LIMITED In 2016, city consultants began planning what has become a $64 million effort to reinvigorate the waterfront called Imagine Clearwater.  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. Columnist Stephanie Hayes will share thoughts, feelings and funny business with you every Monday. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has bought 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name: 58 are in the city of Clearwater and 49 are downtown. Bosi wasnt interested. The property wasnt on the market.  He took over Bob Lees Auto to continue the business legacy and served on the Downtown Development Board for a decade. Seventy-three percent of the property is tax-exempt for religious purposes. The church promised to spend $55 million. In response, the Tampa Bay Times received a letter signed by Scientology attorney Gary Soter that read: There is nothing unnatural about Scientologists wanting to live in the same city that houses the international spiritual headquarters of their church. The church has amassed 60 properties in Pinellas County since arriving in 1975.  Disloyalty has life-changing consequences. Nicole Lyn Pesce is News Editor, Trending at MarketWatch and is based in New York. NIO stock swings lower after reporting losses that were much wider than expected, 3Ms stock surges after company says DOD data show 90% of earplug plaintiffs had normal hearing, Marc Benioffs Salesforce fairy tale is crumbling down around him. If you are looking for a career where your coworkers and leadership care about you and your success, AMI is the right place! It has to be somebody with the money to invest in a real estate development deal. 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. But they werent ready to sell the building, which they had owned for 27 years. It also has to be someone who trusts the Epsteins enough to invest with them. Four high-ranking defectors describe bizarre behavior and physical beatings inflicted by Scientology leader David Miscavige. Holding and president of Graymoss, Inc. [27] The architectural firm HOK was hired to deliver the project. Fischler, a local real estate agent, negotiated at least 10 of the downtown deals, according to interviews with sellers. Lares declined again when Fischler met him at a restaurant in Pinellas Park for lunch, and once more when she tried in May. In her November 2021 article on Scientologists buying land in Clearwater, Tracey McManus wrote (emphasis ours): The city received an informal inquiry last year related to vacant land at the southeast corner of Seminole Street and North Fort Harrison Avenue. Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in Scientologys government espionage scheme, which sent 11 Scientologists to federal prison. 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. And Scientology has an interest in keeping that insulated according to former executives that we've interviewed. He owns Stonebridge Real Estate and served as president of the Florida Gulfcoast Commercial Association of Realtors in 2017. The other side of that is flag is run by the Sea Org, the Scientology's full-time workforce. Local TV station WTSP reports. Welcome. MCMANUS: Scientology arrived in downtown Clearwater in 1975. Your characterization that his religious affiliations somehow control his business activities is evidence of personal bias against his religion, Zaretsky wrote. But the aquarium rejected his bid in order to sell it to the city for $4.25 million. 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.. 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. At first, I just wanted to make a short video about the buildings and programs they are doing in clearwater.  Scientologists living in Clearwater span the gamut of professional life . Right now, at least 30 businesses owned by non-parishioners are renting from Scientologists. Visitors are expected to stay in Scientologys hotels and eat at private church restaurants. I dont know what their plan is.. Companies tied to the Church of Scientology paid millions in cash for 45 properties near downtown with no major plans in sight. He has also lived in Hong Kong and South Korea. MCMANUS: It kind of started in early 2017. Real estate agent Brian Andrus controls seven properties bought around the citys public boat ramp.  For example, David Miscaviges personal lawyer of 35 years Monique Yingling has never been a Scientologist. But far more non-Scientologists are moving out. Internal church documents detailed missions that planted spies in the state attorneys office, the Chamber of Commerce and the Clearwater Sun newspaper. The gallery does not include properties bought by companies run by church members. &quot;You have some buyers here that their motivations are not really clear,&quot; he said, &quot;so it&#x27;s tough to make economic sense out . Flag is run by the churchs full-time workforce, the Sea Org, whose members sign billion-year contracts and work around the clock. Huestler said broker Terri Novitsky calls him every now and again to see if hed be interested in selling. Today, 10 years later, the economic influence of Scientologists in the community is commensurately higher. All five City Council members said they doubted the rash of purchases were unrelated. Visit a quote page and your recently viewed tickers will be displayed here. According to court records, Andrus accompanied two guards as they handcuffed and gagged the man, dragged him into a car and drove him to a hideout, where he was held for a month before escaping. But the couple isnt ready to let go. A few months later, the newcomers admitted they were actually Scientology. Shahab and Catherine Emrani  who manage companies that purchased four commercial buildings, retail space in a condo and vacant land  have given at least $1.75 million to the church. In her bombshell 2019 news story Clear Takeover, Tracey McManus revealed that $103 million in Downtown Clearwater land purchases were made by a series of LLC&#x27;s owned by Scientologists. Epstein declined to name his client but responded to questions from the Timeswith an affidavit declaring it was not the Church of Scientology. Take away the church footprint, a few condo towers and all buildings owned by the government. The church has shed no light on its plans. In summer 2018, Fischler walked into Bob Lees Auto Repair on Park Street to make owner Dennis Bosi an offer. Please! He demanded to see their financials, their board of directors. (CBRE) in April 2016. Zano did not respond to questions about what his plans for the properties.  But on days with no events, downtown feels deserted. Many of the properties werent on the market. Nearly two years after the properties were sold to a company run by two Scientologists, no redevelopment plans have been submitted. After buying eight buildings on and around Cleveland Street in 2018, Moises Agami, a parishioner and developer, now has restaurants, shops and other businesses in 16 of those 20 storefronts. 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. When the council voted to buy the property, the chamber erupted in applause. But its potential is still untapped, with prime vacant land overlooking Clearwater Harbor.  and last updated 7:53 PM, Oct 21, 2019. 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. I think it's comparable to say it's kind of, like, if there were to be a Vatican reporter in Vatican City. I mean, how big is the Church of Scientology where you are? EMPIRICAL PROSPECTING COMPANY LIMITED. This is a story for another time. The church requires followers to shun family members, friends and business contacts who defy it. 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. ";s:7:"keyword";s:47:"companies owned by scientologists in clearwater";s:5:"links";s:397:"<a href="http://informationmatrix.com/SpKlvM/alice-ball-quotes">Alice Ball Quotes</a>,
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