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. Audited NOTs (NOT stands for NED [New Era Dianetics] Operating Thetan) Did you check your W-2? 9,523 Scientologists live in the Tampa Bay area. MCMANUS: Scientology arrived in downtown Clearwater in 1975. All five City Council members said they doubted the rash of purchases were unrelated. The stick out moment, is Tom Cruise auditing Marc, and failing., The live Q & A had great questions and answers. But Scientologist-controlled companies are also sitting on at least 26 vacant lots and 31 empty storefronts and offices. In 2018, Peter Lares got a call from Fischler, asking if hed sell the prominent building in the center of downtown that houses Emilys Restaurant. Church of Scientology's presence in Pinellas County Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has bought 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name: 58 are in the. An elevated walkway connects the building to the Fort Harrison Hotel, the churchs first purchase in the city in 1975. Brokers who are Scientologists approached at least 15 downtown owners about unlisted properties. Businesses might see this city project and say, yeah, let me take a chance on downtown and open up a business. But after a dispute with the city, Miscavige cut communication. The dowtown area of Clearwater is dominated by buildings owned by the Scientologists. ', Freedom Magazine is a Scientology produced publication. Clearwater is the permanent home to more than 10,000 Scientology parishioners. ^ ??? Gulf Coast Marine and ClearwaterPlumbing. ARC Straightwire (ARC stands for affinity-reality-communication) ARC Fil Direct. 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. 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. Reporters analyzed thousands of rows of data and pulled more than 1,000 records from the Pinellas County Property Appraiser, the Pinellas County Clerk of Court and the Florida Division of Corporations. 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 project broke ground in August and is aimed at helping bring businesses and foot traffic to the empty storefronts in the surrounding blocks. For Sale: 500000 - Residential, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,315 sqft at 1359 HOWARD STREET in Clearwater South. It's not clear how many followers are based in Clearwater. As a Designed to Dream property, we've created a relaxing environment so that you can start your day well-rested. Boca Raton, FL . The property wasnt on the market. Leading up to the waterfront, 22 of the first 33 buildings now have ties to Scientology. 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 . In January and February 2017, as the council was preparing to approve the consultants concept, a handful of companies bought six commercial properties downtown. 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. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So clearly they wanted these properties a great deal. Not so shipshape! This makes no sense, except of course to a bigot.. Clearwater also has more vagrants. Run away!!! But the promised downtown revival never came. Weve spent a lot of happy years here, Lares said. 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. 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. Has the Church of Scientology ever killed anyone? A for-lease sign sits in long-vacant retail space at The SkyView condo tower, owned by Scientologist and developer Moises Agami. There comes a time when silence is betrayal. - Martin Luther King Jr. Communication is the universal solvent - L Ron Hubbard, When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon. Thomas Paine, "Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. Fischler offered Bosi $1.4 million, almost three times what the property was valued. They paid $26 million. Fischler, a local real estate agent, negotiated at least 10 of the downtown deals, according to interviews with sellers. The majority of this property now stands vacant, and given the Church's tax exempt status, has limitless potential for development. 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. hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater. Interactive map reveals when you may see SNOW, Kate Garraway reveals Derek's heartbreaking words when they thought he had just minutes left to live. But the couple isnt ready to let go. We profile several of them here. GARCIA-NAVARRO: That's Tracey McManus, who reports on Scientology for the Tampa Bay Times, talking about the church's increased real estate footprint in Clearwater, Fla. We own a tremendous amount of material and so forth, and it keeps growing. They also pointed to the latest edition of their Freedom magazine for what they called an accurate portrayal of the church and its members in Clearwater. They keep their operations going. 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. The land grab started as tensions grew between the church and the Clearwater City Council. 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 summer 2018, Fischler walked into Bob Lees Auto Repair on Park Street to make owner Dennis Bosi an offer. commercial meat slicer rental near me. 'However, it hasnt always been clear to me as to just what does that actually mean.'. Inc. magazine's 2019 report on the 5,000 fastest-growing privately owned businesses in America cites 16 firms based in Clearwater. 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. Epstein declined to name his client but responded to questions from the Times with an affidavit declaring it was not the Church of Scientology. A deserted coin laundry. Following a fallout with the City Council, Scientologists started to buy downtown property - $103million worth to be exact - at an unprecedented rate and now the church and its members own185 properties that cover 101 acres of downtown. Of the $103 million spent, $99 million was paid in cash. Visitors walk through downtown on a Friday. But even when the church isnt in control, its presence can deter development. 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. Copyright 2019 NPR. Theyve got one intention, and one intention only, De Vocht said. See listing details for 880 Mandalay Avenue S604, CLEARWATER, FL 33767 | REGATTA BEACH CLUB CONDO: 0 - 1.00 - 500 - Condo - Hotel listed at 2995 | MLS #O6093827 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. She reported full-time for six months, interviewing more than 90 people and reviewing more than 1,000 documents, to bring you this story. ! A uniformed member of Scientologys full-time work force, the Sea Org, walks along N Fort Harrison Avenue, passing a vacant restaurant. 307 S Myrtle Ave Frnt, Clearwater, FL 33756-5524 +1 727-446-3354 Website Menu. We've got 2511 hotels to choose from within 5 miles of Church of Scientology. 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? Instead, the aquarium sold it to the city in April 2017 for a lot less $4.25 million. Review. The Church takes seriously its responsibility and interest in the future of the area. It was a very turbulent time. light blockers for blinds bunnings; black and white fallacy examples in commercials; what scope do marine snipers use; does squat and cough work; hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater I dont know what their plan is.. 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. Osman Ozsan is, in our opinion, one of the more notable Scientologists you've never heard of. In the 70s, Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in a Scientology plan to infiltrate the government. You have some buyers here that their motivations are not really clear, he said, so its tough to make economic sense out of it.. Clearwater is home to one of the Church's most important bases, a campus called Flag (above), which Scientologists across the globe make pilgrimages to. The Travolta home. The plan. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Hes still holding out. The main reason why developers didnt want it was they didnt want to be near the Church of Scientology, Searcy said. 1991: An investment firm owned by Joel Feshbach, an acknowledged Scientologist, purchased Cocolat, a West Coast candy company that was having some financial . Facebook GARCIA-NAVARRO: What do you mean billion year contracts? 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 last updated 7:53 PM, Oct 21, 2019. In a letter to the Times, the church denied it ever tried to take control of the city. 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. Investigative journalism like this is the most expensive work that we do. But after Anthony How Scientology doubled its downtown Clearwater footprint in 3 years | Investigations | Tampa Bay Times, Do not sell or share my personal information. 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. But just how has the church expanded at such an alarming rate? A scuffed copy of the Koran. Among other things, Ozsan is, according to our source, Trish Duggan's money manager. She said, Well, well have to invite you down for dinner, he recalled. 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. It does not include properties recently bought by companies run by church members. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Who are they buying from, and how much were they offering? ', 'Ever since Ive been here, and ever since Ive dealt with Scientology officials, I have heard the leaders articulate that they want to see a vibrant downtown,,' Longtime City Manager Bill Horne, who wanted to turn downtown into a mall and entertainment center, said. And it's also basically the financial nucleus of the entire organization. The Church has not revealed any motive behind their domination of downtown Clearwater. He is not listed on the corporate filings for any of the eight limited liability companies that recently bought the North Marina properties. They spent $6.5 million to renovate the public Seminole Boat Ramp, a popular centerpiece seen as a sign of the citys commitment. The Times counted each parcel that was assigned a value by the property appraiser as a single property with five exceptions. MCMANUS: Brokers representing these companies were approaching downtown property owners. Fuster and Ozsan go back a long way to Altea Real Property Ltd. in London. His partner is Scientologist Maria Dolores Gregori Fuster. Conspiracy theories are nothing new when it comes to the Church of Scientology. in positive and negative effects of coca cola. Block after block, vacant lots sit untouched, and storefronts remain empty: A former jewelry store. Real estate agent Brian Andrus controls seven properties bought around the citys public boat ramp. In six cases, buyers paid quadruple the propertys value. '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. Scientology founderL. Ron Hubbard called Clearwater its spiritual headquarters. Just how many is tough to fact-check due to the church's many tenuously connected affiliates . It also operates the Fairfield Inn & Suites on Clearwater Beach. 21 day forecast key west, florida. Clearwater is a beautiful town and the downtown area is now a ghost town. Thats not happening with almost any of these properties., [ More reaction: What Clearwaters City Council thinks about Scientologys downtown takeover ]. (Which, actually, all Scientologists are under pressure to do. Seventy-three percent of the property is tax-exempt for religious purposes. Story by TRACEY McMANUS Your email address will not be published. The memos were later seized by the FBI. It set aside $10 million for secret real estate purchases in Clearwater. His attorney, Louis Zaretsky, wrote in a letter to the Times that Zano is a businessman with vast real estate holdings in Israel, Germany, Poland, New York and Florida who makes investments based on his belief that they will appreciate or otherwise contribute to his long-term goals.. New Pasco County commissioner accused of faking his residency, Guide to Plant Citys Strawberry Festival, one of the largest festivals in the nation, Gov. Then,. Clarion Inn & Suites Central Clearwater Beach has an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, a restaurant and bar in Clearwater. Didn't like the Grab N Go Idea for a continental Breakfast. 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. Mike Rinder, who led Scientologys intelligence arm before defecting in 2007, said any property owned by a parishioner is in the churchs control. He publicly asked why there were security cards with billy clubs and mace on the roof. Florida Hotels and Places to Stay. 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. 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. June 9, 2022. The comments below have not been moderated. Operatives framed the mayor in a staged hit-and-run and spread false rumors he was having an extramarital affair. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has purchased 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name. Ive been waiting for this neighborhood to clean up for 30 years, and I still think its around the corner, Rice said. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. In a letter, the church said the Times is misinterpreting Scientology policy and that other religions also practice shunning. 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!' Did you check your W-2? The church requires followers to shun family members, friends and business contacts who defy it. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler, a Scientologist, called and showed up to the shop a handful of times in mid-2018. 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. 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. This one is owned by a parishioner who had been featured on the churchs Meet a Scientologist video series. 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. 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. It has terrorized defectors with private investigators, smear campaigns and relentless litigation. Its like they are trying to control the whole thing.. Religious Technology Center (RTC) is the primary manager of Scientology intellectual property. 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. Searcy felt like hed created a canvas for a dream hotel, condo and retail project: near the bridge to Clearwater Beach, no height restrictions, all under $5 million. 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. Its too soon to say how the shift in ownership will affect downtown. Click here to read the story. In those cases, four or more parcels purchased together clearly comprised a single piece of real estate. Then walk down Cleveland Street downtowns main artery. Some of the parishioners have a history of working on Scientologys behalf. They haven't submitted redevelopment plans. The Church didn't comment on whether Scientology orchestrated or paid for any of the real estate sales. what does holetta mean in polish renault clio steering wheel controls not working hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater. 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. I mean, how big is the Church of Scientology where you are? Help us keep bringing stories like this to you. The church stopped communicating with the city. Concerned he wouldnt be able to pay his mortgage, Argall said he deeded the building, appraised at $780,000, back to the previous owner. Charles 'will NEVER build real relationship with Archie and Lili unless Harry and Meghan get new royal 'Putin has STOLEN our Ukrainian children': Distraught parents tell how THOUSANDS of youngsters never EMILY PRESCOTT: Sarah Ferguson 'confused' after seeing photos from goddaughter's wedding she thought she was Joe Biden is 'unlikely' to attend King Charles' coronation due to Ireland trip - despite promising to A 14-year-old autistic boy's naive prank. Terri Novitsky and Hayes did not return calls and emails requesting comment. The Church told DailyMail.com: 'The Times article is simply the latest in its continuing and unending obsession with Scientology and is little more than self-serving propaganda intended to give the appearance of objective reporting without reporting the actual facts to the reader.'. 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. Columnist Stephanie Hayes will share thoughts, feelings and funny business with you every Monday. After negotiations, Kerrs company paid Yarbrough $1.1 million in cash for the lots, then valued by Pinellas County at $331,000. Shephard's Beach Resort. Since it was founded in 1955, Scientology has purchased hundreds, possibly thousands of buildings. But now these LLCs tied to Scientology control the retail district. 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