Seventy-one percent of the 60 parcels the Church of Scientology owns under its name in Pinellas County are tax-exempt for religious purposes. Dalai Lama. From $150.62 per night. Yarbrough never learned the buyers identity. hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater. 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. This month, Shahab Emrani was elected to the Downtown Development Board, which helps promote downtown. Clearwater is the permanent home to more than 10,000 Scientology parishioners. Clearwater 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. All five City Council members said they doubted the rash of purchases were unrelated. 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. 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. Didn't like the Grab N Go Idea for a continental Breakfast. The churchs hostility toward the public became clear from its first days in the city in fall 1975. 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. We own a tremendous amount of material and so forth, and it keeps growing. Why does this matter? For Sale: 500000 - Residential, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,315 sqft at 1359 HOWARD STREET in Clearwater South. But they werent ready to sell the building, which they had owned for 27 years. They doubled the churchs footprint in less than three years. Clearwater also has more vagrants. The other side of that is flag is run by the Sea Org, the Scientology's full-time workforce. MCMANUS: Yeah, I think that the key here is the uncertainty. Scientology has been accused of using the information as blackmail. 619 S Gulfview Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33767-2643. by. A few months after Yarbrough relocated, a new electrical company moved into his old building. 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. Ive been waiting for this neighborhood to clean up for 30 years, and I still think its around the corner, Rice said. The comments below have not been moderated. Scientologists make up a diverse group in Clearwater. Jim is a nationally known artist. The Church of Scientology is a group of interconnected corporate entities and other organizations devoted to the practice, administration and dissemination. Operatives framed the mayor in a staged hit-and-run and spread false rumors he was having an extramarital affair. In 1975, Scientology creator L. Ron Hubbard bought a historic hotel in downtown Clearwater. He had committed to downtown in 1997. 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. It has terrorized defectors with private investigators, smear campaigns and relentless litigation. 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? But Scientologist-controlled companies are also sitting on at least 26 vacant lots and 31 empty storefronts and offices. ^ ??? Agami also signed two more leases on the same block with restaurants owned by people not connected to the church. My plan is to keep renting, Huestler said. hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater. But the couple isnt ready to let go. A for-lease sign sits in long-vacant retail space at The SkyView condo tower, owned by Scientologist and developer Moises Agami. 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 . 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 Fort Harrison Hotel is located in Clearwater, Florida, and besides being an exclusive Scientology hotel, it is a high-level training center and the church's spiritual headquarters. On Sept. 7, Epsteins employee was removed from the corporate filings of the company that own the land. Has the Church of Scientology ever killed anyone? GARCIA-NAVARRO: So clearly they wanted these properties a great deal. They now own most commercial property on every block within walking distance of the waterfront, putting the secretive church firmly in control of the areas future. church of 8 wheels closing; forest fair village shopping mall; 10Jun. But far more non-Scientologists are moving out. 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. And half the sales were for more than double what the properties were valued by the county property appraiser, the Times found. 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. Walking through Clearwater people will find vacant lots, an empty former jewelry store, an dead laundromat and an abandoned Walgreens. The more its isolated and doesnt have people who are non-Scientologists around the area, the better.. Rice said hes been surprised that he has not been approached by brokers trying to buy his 10,000-square-foot building. Save. City officials are trying to make the area a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. Florida Hotels and Places to Stay. Disloyalty has life-changing consequences. Your characterization that his religious affiliations somehow control his business activities is evidence of personal bias against his religion, Zaretsky wrote. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler, a Scientologist, called and showed up to the shop a handful of times in mid-2018. 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. Stu Sjouwerman is defying the trend for Scientologists in the past year. Although I find Clearwater to be fairly safe, it has more crime than Naples. . The city and the church fought in court for years. 20, 2019. You are a fundamentalist Scientologist, or youre not one at all.. The majority of this property now stands vacant, and given the Church's tax exempt status, has limitless potential for development. The Mission: Impossible - Fallout star plans to call an elaborate penthouse, complete with a private swimming pool and garden, his new home. June 22, 2022; Posted by . Then he would try again, with new council members. 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. 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. Because the city rebuffed Miscaviges offer, Bunker, who has advocated against alleged abuses in Scientology for 20 years, said he sees the parishioner-involved real estate purchases that followed as a vindictive and desperate play to interfere with Clearwaters revitalization efforts. In this way Scientologists were able to buy properties without companies knowing they were behind it. The Church takes seriously its responsibility and interest in the future of the area. Please consider supporting us with a tax-deductible donation to the Tampa Bay Times Investigative Fund. 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. 'The true story of downtown development is presented in an article in that Freedom, 'Who Is The Real Block To Downtown Revitalization?' Lares and his wife, Emily, sold the diner inside a decade ago. No one from the church dictates to me what to buy, what to sell, what to do.. The WORST care homes in England: Interactive map reveals the lowest-rated 2,530 residences - so is there one 'I can still hear their cruel laughter': Dr Alex George bravely reveals he suffered with an eating disorder Matt Hancock discussed 'deploying' new virus variant to 'frighten the pants off everyone' as former Health 'So many dead. Among other things, Ozsan is, according to our source, Trish Duggan's money manager. Has the Church of Scientology ever killed anyone? Since 2017, the Church of Scientology and companies run by its members have bought 92 properties around the center of downtown. MCMANUS: It kind of started in early 2017. It does not include properties recently bought by companies run by church members. 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. Scientology hasn't answered directly why they've taken over the Clearwater area, but skeptics say it's to keep the public away. Nearly all of the properties were bought through limited liability companies, which are required to disclose their operators but not their owners. He walked away with nothing. 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. When the council voted to buy the property, the chamber erupted in applause. But David Kerr, a local real estate agent and parishioner, walked in one day with an offer. 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. Lee sold when Fischler upped her offer to $410,000 cash for the building valued at $109,000 by the property appraiser. Investigative journalism like this is the most expensive work that we do. The reason lies in rising tensions between the church and the Clearwater City Council. AND it is NOT in a Flood Zone! In summer 2018, Fischler walked into Bob Lees Auto Repair on Park Street to make owner Dennis Bosi an offer. The churchs influence comes from its massive wealth, estimated around $3billion in cash and assets, collected from devoted followers. Epstein declined to name his client but responded to questions from the Times with an affidavit declaring it was not the Church of Scientology. All rights reserved. ! The church requires followers to shun family members, friends and business contacts who defy it. 0. The Church's celebrity members Tom Cruise and John Travolta are known to have estates near Clearwater as well. (On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Times reported that since 2017, companies run by members of Scientology bought another 86 downtown commercial properties. And inside those findings was a plan that Scientology operatives had created and written to establish area control. The Resort at Longboat Key Club . #1 of 10 resorts in Clearwater. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Just out of curiosity, when you say the tactics that they used in the '70s, what were those? 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. 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. (Everything owned by parishioner-run companies is still on the tax rolls. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard had written about doing away with governments and replacing them with a Scientology-run society. Argall left the church and was forced to abandon his business of more than 20 years. 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 said as he looked at a map of downtowns new ownership. The church offered $15 million for the parcel. 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. $500,000 USD: Your Dream Florida Home with heated Pool is within Reach! Hillsborough forms had errors, companies tied to Scientology bought 100 properties, Winter the dolphin died of twisted intestines, necropsy report confirms. June 9, 2022. Scientology in Clearwater Big Brother is Watching You. Flag is run by the churchs full-time workforce, the Sea Org, whose members sign billion-year contracts and work around the clock. 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. 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. Flag is run by thechurchs notorious full-time workforce, the Sea Org, whose members sign billion-year contracts. Scientology founderL. Ron Hubbard called Clearwater its spiritual headquarters. Not so shipshape! Andrus did not respond to an email, phone message, a note left at his office or a certified letter. And it's also basically the financial nucleus of the entire organization. Andrus, the former church operative, has broken ground on a condo tower near the citys boat ramp and filed plans for another housing complex nearby. They called it, quote, "little more than self-serving propaganda intended to give the appearance of objective reporting." Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. 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. BBC's 1million star Zoe Ball, 52, lands big new payday for Abba show on ITV. Clearwater is a beautiful town and the downtown area is now a ghost town. What a difference in Mike from then and now., The Q&A session began at 2PM. Scientology spokesman Ben Shaw said in a statement that the church is not involved with the acquisitions. 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. Answer (1 of 12): Openly, they tend to congregate around the area of downtown where they work and own most of the real estate. 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. 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. Businesses without ties to the church are moving into a few of those. Made an offer. 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 profile several of them here. Norm Novitsky hung up when asked by a reporter about the companies plans. 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. Companies tied to the Church of Scientology paid millions in cash for 45 properties near downtown with no major plans in sight. It is now 6PM. And he was going to build an entertainment complex with Tom Cruise. Published: 04:56 GMT, 22 October 2019 | Updated: 08:39 GMT, 22 October 2019. 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. Today, 10 years later, the economic influence of Scientologists in the community is commensurately higher. In those cases, four or more parcels purchased together clearly comprised a single piece of real estate. And it's all surrounding the city's downtown waterfront. After a workout in our fitness center, begin your morning with our free hot breakfast, free hot coffee and free weekday newspaper in our . The Fort Harrison Hotel is located steps from Clearwater City Hall, close to the downtown waterfront area,. The Times counted each parcel that was assigned a value by the property appraiser as a single property with five exceptions. The Church did however slam the Times for its reporting for having a 'preconceived agenda to present every Scientology story in a false and unfavorable light.'. The stick out moment, is Tom Cruise auditing Marc, and failing., The live Q & A had great questions and answers. The church also targeted the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Justice and scores of foreign governments. They keep their operations going. Delk described the projects which require voter approval as key to the plans success. 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. Members have to answer to their ethics officer for any act of disloyalty to Scientologys mission. But in the 70s, Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in Scientologys government espionage scheme, which sent 11 Scientologists to federal prison. GARCIA-NAVARRO: And we reached out to the Church of Scientology about the Tampa Bay Times report. He is not listed on the corporate filings for any of the eight limited liability companies that recently bought the North Marina properties. Review. 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) Over half are owned or operated by Scientologists. Religious Technology Center (RTC) is the primary manager of Scientology intellectual property. 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. They come from all walks of life, professions and ethnic groups. Bosi wasnt interested. They were very secretive, he said. Your email address will not be published. Boca Raton, FL . He told Fischler that before Scientology bought the Fort Harrison Hotel in 1975 he worked there as a busboy. Fuster and Ozsan go back a long way to Altea Real Property Ltd. in London. City officials say their dedication to redeveloping the waterfront hasnt changed. In interviews, sellers said most of the transactions unfolded the same way. City officials plan to partner with a developer on ways to adapt the red brick schoolhouse, like turning it into a hub for restaurants, retail, or apartments. 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. GARCIA-NAVARRO: It's the type of servitude. Then in 2017, companies controlled by parishioners began buying retail property at an unprecedented rate. But Lee assumed the church was involved. 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. DeSantis vetoed a $1M Day of Service program that was worth so much more | Column, DeSantis calls for open market to compete with Advanced Placement, Supreme Court weighs Biden student loan plan worth billions, Maple Leafs: Lightning, other division rivals did not spur deal, The youngest Grand Prix of St. Petersburg driver? We don't know what they're planning to do with the properties. Whether you're traveling with friends, family, or even pets, Vrbo vacation homes have the best amenities for hanging out with the people that matter most, including swimming pools and air conditioning. I agree, the blog has a limited purpose, Super excellent, really great chemistry, so enjoyable to watch. '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. While theres no law against hanging onto property, developers typically buy land, build on it and sell it for profit. In private meetings with council members, the Scientology leader described a plan for high-end shops, Cleveland Street facade renovations and an entertainment complex involving actor Tom Cruise, Scientologys most famous parishioner. Scientologists in Clearwater. Flag is what they call it, and it's the international spiritual headquarters of the church. He demanded to see their financials, their board of directors. 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.. And Scientology has an interest in keeping that insulated according to former executives that we've interviewed. But the aquarium rejected his bid in order to sell it to the city for $4.25 million. Toni Says: What is Medicares creditable prescription drug coverage? It was owned by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Paid in cash. 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. Clarion Inn & Suites Central Clearwater Beach has an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, a restaurant and bar in Clearwater. And the tactics they were using to establish area control included infiltration, spying, smearing enemies. Scientology leader David Miscavige told city officials the properties were part of the churchs proposed retail redevelopment plan. ), 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. Half the properties were bought since January 2017. Take away the church footprint, a few condo towers and all buildings owned by the government. Many of their properties weren't listed for sale. They cant even fix their own families. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So tell me about these land purchases. Just make more income with Scientology. Were she in Utah, would the Times intrepid reporter have headlined that 'Mormons are buying up property in downtown Salt Lake City!' 9,523 Scientologists live in the Tampa Bay area. Many of the properties werent on the market. Four high-ranking defectors describe bizarre behavior and physical beatings inflicted by Scientology leader David Miscavige. Osman Ozsan is, in our opinion, one of the more notable Scientologists you've never heard of. It's GRAYGATE! The goal was to capture the area immediately surrounding both Scientologys headquarters, City Hall and the city-owned waterfront. 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. Can you give me a sense of the scale and how they have made this happen with the relatively little fanfare over the years? Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in Scientologys government espionage scheme, which sent 11 Scientologists to federal prison. 3,594 Reviews . The Times used the date that transactions were recorded in Clerk of Courts official record as the date of sale. [quote] Florida Gov. Chef Karl has held positions at the Bermuda Carlton Beach Hotel, and Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans. 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. A uniformed member of Scientologys full-time work force, the Sea Org, walks along N Fort Harrison Avenue, passing a vacant restaurant. A broker who was a Scientologist approached a downtown property owner. It met his criteria: It was located in a warm climate near an international airport and had a hotel the Sea Org could turn into a base. Just how many is tough to fact-check due to the church's many tenuously connected affiliates . A broker is trying to buy the building Peter and Emily Lares have owned for decades. Church officials used a straw corporation to buy the historic Fort Harrison Hotel and moved in under a fake name. In addition, more is planned to occur on the "Ides of march" (March 15th) Which also happens to be L. Ron Hubbard's . Thirteen were existing tenants when he bought the properties. City leaders spent tens of millions improving streets, subsidizing residential projects and hiring consultants. 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. His partner is Scientologist Maria Dolores Gregori Fuster. 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.. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists of professing to believe what he does not believe." 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. Tyler Rice has run Carillon Flooring Center on North Fort Harrison for 30 years, the business his father started there in 1964. There is nothing unnatural about Scientologists wanting to live in the same city that houses the international spiritual headquarters of their church, said a letter signed by Scientology attorney Gary Soter. It said information in parishioner folders is sacrosanct and claims of blackmail have long since been disproven.. The Church has not revealed any motive behind their domination of downtown Clearwater. I, Scientology cant clear the planet or fix every issue. Defectors have said they were paid less than $50 a week. The Boca Raton Beach Club. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with reporter Tracey McManus. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.