Taking into account these denials, we now have a new opinion to offer our readers. The property wasnt on the market. If the council in 2020 isnt on board with doing something his way, hes going to do it himself.. What's more, the Times found a Scientology magazine from the 1990s that listed goals for the new millennium. Gentile also purchased several Clearwater companies owned by Scientologists who may have invested the proceeds into land deals. Some have donated millions to the church. Limited liability companies managed by Hayes, the attorney whos done work on behalf of the church, bought almost the entire square block directly east of the North Ward school. Most religions have a fundamentalist wing, Rinder said. Indeed, Scientology used the name The United Churches of Florida to purchase the Fort Harrison in 1975 for $3 million in cash. Once we dug into the data and pulled records, we found that LLCs tied to the Church of Scientology had bought about 100 properties. It is a big faux pas in business PR to bring up the subject of religion when it is absolutely unnecessary to do so. Fischler offered Bosi $1.4 million, almost three times what the property was valued. Terri Novitsky and Hayes did not return calls and emails requesting comment. Florida migrant flights lawsuit dismissed in wake of Legislature passing law, Editorial Cartoons for Thursday from Times Wire Services, Bucs new coordinator is confident! CONNIE HUMBURG, TRACEY McMANUS, ELI MURRAY, ELI ZHANG | Times. The Church was unaware of the land purchases? Rodney Riley is an interesting character in this whole thing. According to his resume, he started the firm in 2003. But David Kerr, a local real estate agent and parishioner, walked in one day with an offer. I mean, how big is the Church of Scientology where you are? Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has purchased 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name. City officials are trying to make the area a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. 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. The hotel has 11 stories and features 220 rooms, three restaurants, a swimming pool and a . On Sept. 7, Epsteins employee was removed from the corporate filings of the company that own the land. In North America, Melitta is the leading brand of coffee filters. 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. 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. He owns Stonebridge Real Estate and served as president of the Florida Gulfcoast Commercial Association of Realtors in 2017. 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 city wants to turn downtown into a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. Sponsored by HomeIPO.org Is it possible to get money (maybe $50k) without a loan? Then walk down Cleveland Street downtowns main artery. In 2017 the church acquired six downtown Clearwater retail properties through limited liability companies. Defectors have said they were paid less than $50 a week. In 2016, city consultants began planning what has become a $64 million effort to reinvigorate the waterfront called Imagine Clearwater. A deserted coin laundry. Ozsan has had a residence in London since 2001. CBRE is an acronym for CB Richard Ellis. Church officials used a straw corporation to buy the historic Fort Harrison Hotel and moved in under a fake name. It has to be somebody with the money to invest in a real estate development deal. 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. NIO's stock slumped toward a 2 1/2-year low, after the China-based EV maker reported a much wider-than-expected loss and revenue that fell short of forecasts. Half the properties were bought since January 2017. A broker is trying to buy the building Peter and Emily Lares have owned for decades. businesses owned by scientologistsdoes keegan allen have a child 26th February 2023 / in west warwick viewpoint / by / in west warwick viewpoint / by CEO Approval. Flag is what they call it, and it's the international spiritual headquarters of the church. I believe its irrational to buy property and not fully utilize it.. On Sept. 7, Epsteins employee was removed from the corporate filings of the company that own the land. My plan is to keep renting, Huestler said. 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. Scientology has said it has 10 million followers, but surveys and accounts from former members suggest there are no more than 30,000 worldwide. In 2002, she was listed as an international deputy of a committee tasked with disseminating Scientology doctrine. There are 22 Church of Scientology facilities in downtown Clearwater. Scientologists deal with useful non-Scientologists quite often. Some landlords tied to Scientology have helped bring life to portions of downtown. 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. I dont mix my personal business with other areas in my life, said Terri Novitsky, a Scientologist who manages a company that bought two office buildings on Chestnut Street in 2017. However, it hasnt always been clear to me as to just what does that actually mean.. Fischler, a local real estate agent, negotiated at least 10 of the downtown deals, according to interviews with sellers. This makes no sense, except of course to a bigot.. (I'm in Clearwater). 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. 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. (Everything owned by parishioner-run companies is still on the tax rolls. The land grab started as tensions grew between the church and the Clearwater City Council. Andrus involvement in Scientology goes back decades and includes his participation in a plan during the 1970s to stop a church member who had spied on the federal government from turning himself in to the FBI. We believe it's important to shed light on a powerful institution that's very controversial and plays a big role in our community. The few willing to answer questions said Scientology has no influence on their real estate dealings. Disloyalty has life-changing consequences. Andrus did not respond to an email, phone message, a note left at his office or a certified letter. About $15.9 million was paid in cash. Good luck on that. Scientologys extraordinary influence over its members has been documented in government investigations and testimony from former parishioners throughout its 65-year history. The campus collects millions each week through fundraising and payments for expensive courses and high-level religious counseling not offered anywhere else. Rod Riley has no background in Scientology. 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's owned by Scientologists. Companies tied to the Church of Scientology paid millions in cash for 45 properties near downtown with no major plans in sight. Over the next four decades, the church gradually amassed 58 properties in Clearwater under its name, 49 of them downtown. 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 have control over what businesses, if any, come in. The Church of Scientology, its members and companies controlled by its members have spent $103 million over the past three years buying retail property in downtown Clearwater, Fla., according to the Tampa Bay Times. Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in Scientologys government espionage scheme, which sent 11 Scientologists to federal prison. Copyright 2023 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved. But that is where it ends. I would assume hes a Scientologist or involved with them in some fashion. The 2017-2019 Downtown Clearwater land purchases made by Scientologists totaled $103 million. The Church takes seriously its responsibility and interest in the future of the area. Our opinion is that Riley was instructed to get ahead of the story by bringing up Scientology before he was asked about it. Coincident with this Riley-registered RSR Capital Advisors as an LLC in Florida on March 21, 2022. When the council voted to buy the property, the chamber erupted in applause. City officials say their dedication to redeveloping the waterfront hasnt changed. A broker who was a Scientologist approached a downtown property owner. Fischler approached Bosi again in September. GARCIA-NAVARRO: What is the view of the local community? Scientologists from across the globe make pilgrimages to the campus, called Flag. We don't know what they're planning to do with the properties. They started hosting concerts on the waterfront that now draw thousands. 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. In interviews, sellers said most of the transactions unfolded the same way. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email along with 7129 other subscribers. Scientology leader David Miscavige told city officials the properties were part of the churchs proposed retail redevelopment plan. We interpret it as the Tampa Bay Times getting too close for Mr. Epsteins comfort. Seventy-three percent of the property is tax-exempt for religious purposes. Local Scientology spokesman Ben Shaw and international spokeswoman Karin Pouw did not respond to repeated requests by the Times for an interview with Scientology leader David Miscavige. Columnist Stephanie Hayes will share thoughts, feelings and funny business with you every Monday. The church stopped communicating with the city. The church promised to spend $55 million. And he was going to recruit high-end retail to some of the empty storefronts because downtown Clearwater's pretty depressed. The new owners also are sitting on about 30 undeveloped lots. The churchs influence comes from the estimated $3 billion in cash and assets it has collected from its followers. 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. Real estate agent Brian Andrus controls seven properties bought around the citys public boat ramp. Be informed that their owners are local Scientologists who support the abuses of Scientology leader David Miscavige. However, we reserve our prior opinion and modify it by stating that some GPB Capital money may be in the Clearwater real estate purchases mix. City Council member Mark Bunker said although the church is not the official buyer of the downtown and North Marina properties, there is reason to believe Scientology leader David Miscavige is orchestrating the parishioner-operated companies making the acquisitions. Four high-ranking defectors describe bizarre behavior and physical beatings inflicted by Scientology leader David Miscavige. VIDEO: Finally, Scientific Proof that Scientologys Body Thetans Cannot Exist! There is no discrimination for or against *any* religion. Times reporters built a database of hundreds of properties in the center of Clearwaters downtown. The church has amassed 60 properties in Pinellas County since arriving in 1975. Should we cut my sister out of the family inheritance? Tracey McManus is a Scientology reporter for the paper, and she joins us now. 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. In a letter to the Times, the church denied it ever tried to take control of the city. All they did was act like children and make crude sex/homophobic/racial jokes about being raped, gangbanged, etc. Both are supposed to open soon. Then he would try again, with new council members. 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