She said, Well, well have to invite you down for dinner, he recalled. But that is where it ends. The campus collects millions each week through fundraising and payments for expensive courses and high-level religious counseling not offered anywhere else. Clearwater is the permanent home to more than 10,000 Scientology parishioners. 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. Sponsored by HomeIPO.org Is it possible to get money (maybe $50k) without a loan? The origin story for the CB in CBRE does come from Coldwell Banker, but that was a very long time ago. I saw a business opportunity, Ezra said. Reached at their condo, his wife declined to comment. 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. Both have been there for decades. 1. Rileys Clearwater Marina District development has a $350 million price tag on it. [1] In those cases, four or more parcels purchased together clearly comprised a single piece of real estate. 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. Church officials used a straw corporation to buy the historic Fort Harrison Hotel and moved in under a fake name. Gentile also purchased several Clearwater companies owned by Scientologists who may have invested the proceeds into land deals. It was a very turbulent time. The church attracts members through a theology of self improvement and understanding. Good luck on that. The Church was unaware of the significant number of properties owned by Scientologists in the Clearwater area and are delighted you provided the information.. Spa not owned by a Scientologist. Council members were less delighted by the discovery, however especially since many of the lots and storefronts purchased by owners with Scientology ties are sitting vacant while the Clearwater City Council aims to turn the downtown waterfront into a dining and entertainment destination. It is all so convenient for Rodney that it appears to be scripted. Since July 2019, eight limited liability companies managed or operatedby members of the church have bought 45 properties in North Marina, including Chesneys. It is headed by David Miscavige [1] . Of the $103 million spent, $99 million was paid in cash. Seventy-one percent of the 60 parcels the Church of Scientology owns under its name in Pinellas County are tax-exempt for religious purposes. The Times described sales as cash transactions when they were paid without a mortgage filed in public records. But Scientologist-controlled companies are also sitting on at least 26 vacant lots and 31 empty storefronts and offices. This purchase was part of Project Normandy, a covert Scientology program to take over Clearwater. The land grab started as tensions grew between the church and the Clearwater City Council. Copyright 2019 NPR. 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. It teaches that expanding Scientology is key to saving the world, then wields a system of totalitarian policies to keep parishioners in line. When the council voted to buy the property, the chamber erupted in applause. Columnist Stephanie Hayes will share thoughts, feelings and funny business with you every Monday. Florida migrant flights lawsuit dismissed in wake of Legislature passing law, Editorial Cartoons for Thursday from Times Wire Services, Bucs new coordinator is confident! 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. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with reporter Tracey McManus. GARCIA-NAVARRO: And we reached out to the Church of Scientology about the Tampa Bay Times report. 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. The more its isolated and doesnt have people who are non-Scientologists around the area, the better.. . These workers sign billion year contracts, are paid very little, work around the clock. Holding and president of Graymoss, Inc. [27] The architectural firm HOK was hired to deliver the project. 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. Scientologys survival depends on the preservation of its headquarters in Clearwater. The lack of action from Scientology-tied buyers has precedent. In January and February 2017, as the council was preparing to approve the consultants concept, a handful of companies bought six commercial properties downtown. Write by: . But after he forwarded an email critical of the organization in 2012 to another parishioner, the church began an excommunication process that would have forced his partner of 24 years to stop working with him and his tenants to move out. Scientologys extraordinary influence over its members has been documented in government investigations and testimony from former parishioners throughout its 65-year history. CONNIE HUMBURG, TRACEY McMANUS, ELI MURRAY, ELI ZHANG | Times. 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. Scientology leader David Miscavige had his own redevelopment plan. businesses owned by scientologistsdoes keegan allen have a child 26th February 2023 / in west warwick viewpoint / by / in west warwick viewpoint / by In late 2020, Terri Novitsky also was elected to the Downtown Development Board, an advisory group tasked with promoting downtown. 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. Thats a factor we do not control, Delk said. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So tell me about these land purchases. The US average revenue of a car dealership is $38.3 million. Seven businesses have left following recent purchases, and at least three more are leaving this year, including Clearwater Plumbing and Gulf Coast Marine. All together, 32 companies bought 92 downtown properties since 2017. CEO Approval. Huestler said broker Terri Novitsky calls him every now and again to see if hed be interested in selling. 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. Hibbard previously served as Mayor from 2005 until 2012, leaving office because of term limits. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has purchased 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name. 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. 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. It set aside $10 million for secret real estate purchases in Clearwater. 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. Argall left the church and was forced to abandon his business of more than 20 years. But after a dispute with the city, Miscavige cut communication. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Just out of curiosity, when you say the tactics that they used in the '70s, what were those? A uniformed member of Scientologys full-time work force, the Sea Org, walks along N Fort Harrison Avenue, passing a vacant restaurant. They now own most commercial property. He owns Stonebridge Real Estate and served as president of the Florida Gulfcoast Commercial Association of Realtors in 2017. The Florida Secretary of States record on Rod Rileys RST Capital Advisors LLC: Categories: Clearwater, Osman Ozsan, Trish Duggan, Tagged as: CA South Development, Clearwater Marina District, David Gentile, DEUTERIUM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, DEUTERIUM INVESTMENT ADVISORS LIMITED, Gary Soter, Gregori And Company LLC, Maria Dolores Gregori Fuster, Megan Epstein, Osman Ozsan, Ozsan, RSR Capital Advisors LLC, Stephen Epstein, Tampa Bay Times, Tracey McManus, Trish Duggan, Re: The companies paid a combined $11.8 million in cash for 28 undeveloped parcels, five empty commercial buildings and a dozen homes, When I read that, I couldnt help but be reminded of the English Christmas carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas (On the third day of Christmas/ synergy rv transport pay rate; stephen randolph todd. Although Zano is not well known in Clearwater, the companies spent $16.7 million acquiring 26 commercial properties downtown. Accuracy and availability may vary. All five City Council members said they doubted the rash of purchases were unrelated. Flag is run by the churchs full-time workforce, the Sea Org, whose members sign billion-year contracts and work around the clock. In Florida, limited liability companies that buy property are required to disclose administrative operators but not their owners. Half the sales were for more than double what the properties were valued at by the county property appraiser. Fischler offered Bosi $1.4 million, almost three times what the property was valued. Gulf Coast Marine and ClearwaterPlumbing. Nicole Lyn Pesce is News Editor, Trending at MarketWatch and is based in New York. It also has to be someone who trusts the Epsteins enough to invest with them. 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. 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. 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. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler brokered at least 10 downtown sales on behalf of seven buyers. 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. In Mesa, its the Mormon Church that dominates the area and I was able to work in that environment. 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. Businesses without ties to the church are moving into a few of those. Members have to answer to their ethics officer for any act of disloyalty to Scientologys mission. So we kept our eye on the downtown purchases. MCMANUS: It kind of started in early 2017. 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