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. Concerned he wouldnt be able to pay his mortgage, Argall said he deeded the building, appraised at $780,000, back to the previous owner. Sponsored by HomeIPO.org Is it possible to get money (maybe $50k) without a loan? The Church of Scientology and companies run by its members have spent $103 million since 2017 buying about 100 properties. He is not listed on the corporate filings for any of the eight limited liability companies that recently bought the North Marina properties. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard had written about doing away with governments and replacing them with a Scientology-run society. DEUTERIUM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED 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. It was a very turbulent time. Cazares responds with an $8 million libel suit. Based upon on our new hypothesis that Trish Duggan may be the financier of the land purchases, the logic of bringing in non-Scientologist Rod Riley to act as the frontman makes sense as it can serve to counter any accusation that Scientology is taking over Clearwater. The Florida Secretary of State records show the firm went dormant in 2012. This purchase was part of Project Normandy, a covert Scientology program to take over Clearwater. But his offer had a catch. Scientology came to downtown Clearwater in 1975. He wanted the council to stop trying to buy a vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. I would ask that you clarify the reference to CBRE. EMPIRICAL PROSPECTING COMPANY LIMITED. He has also lived in Hong Kong and South Korea. But far more non-Scientologists are moving out. The churchs campus grew slowly over decades. 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. But its potential is still untapped, with prime vacant land overlooking Clearwater Harbor. He owns Stonebridge Real Estate and served as president of the Florida Gulfcoast Commercial Association of Realtors in 2017. CONNIE HUMBURG, TRACEY McMANUS, ELI MURRAY, ELI ZHANG | Times. synergy rv transport pay rate; stephen randolph todd. It would be the same if I was a (proud) Christian, Jew, or Muslim. He publicly asked why there were security cards with billy clubs and mace on the roof. 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. (CBRE) in April 2016. Subscribe to our free Stephinitely newsletter. 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. For example, David Miscaviges personal lawyer of 35 years Monique Yingling has never been a Scientologist. Theres no such thing in Scientology. . David Gentile is creative with money and had hundreds of bank accounts and sub-funds when he ran GPB Capital. She estimated that around a quarter of the . In 2017 the church acquired six downtown Clearwater retail properties through limited liability companies. (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. Once we dug into the data and pulled records, we found that LLCs tied to the Church of Scientology had bought about 100 properties. The 2017-2019 Downtown Clearwater land purchases made by Scientologists totaled $103 million. Fifty-three of those are for properties owned by companies run by himself with fellow Scientologist Emrani, a candidate in this election. Operatives framed the mayor in a staged hit-and-run and spread false rumors he was having an extramarital affair. Scientology spokesman Ben Shaw said in a statement that the church is not involved with the acquisitions. Thirteen were existing tenants when he bought the properties. They paid $26 million. Osman Ozsan is, in our opinion, one of the more notable Scientologists youve never heard of. Hayes, the attorney and parishioner involved in the rest of the North Marina purchases, was added as manager on the companies filings. If you are looking for a career where your coworkers and leadership care about you and your success, AMI is the right place! The Scientology leader had offered the Clearwater Marine Aquarium $15 million for that 1.4-acre grass lot on Pierce Street. "You have some buyers here that their motivations are not really clear," he said, "so it's tough to make economic sense out . There's parishioners that come here from all over the world to take courses in high level auditing that's not offered anywhere else. Thank you for having us. Nearly all of the roughly two dozen people listed as operating the companies are Scientologists. A broker is trying to buy the building Peter and Emily Lares have owned for decades. 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. In January and February 2017, a handful of limited liability companies bought six prime downtown parcels. It teaches that expanding Scientology is key to saving the world, then wields a system of totalitarian policies to keep parishioners in line. The land grab started as tensions grew between the church and the Clearwater City Council. If our work stats did not improve day to day . The more its isolated and doesnt have people who are non-Scientologists around the area, the better.. 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. The 1.4 acre lot was across the street from City Hall and adjacent to a 13-story Scientology religious retreat. 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. . Everyone in KnowBe4 knows I'm a (proud) Scientologist. He told Fischler that before Scientology bought the Fort Harrison Hotel in 1975 he worked there as a busboy. In the world of scientologywhere anything goes and all laws in the wog world by damnedits Christmas 24/7. Do you own your house? Brokers who are Scientologists approached at least 15 downtown owners about unlisted properties. Fifty-eight are in the city of Clearwater and 49 are downtown.. Half the properties were bought since January 2017. And he was going to build an entertainment complex with Tom Cruise. I saw a business opportunity, Ezra said. Scientology leader David Miscavige had his own redevelopment plan. 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. 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. Of the $103 million spent, $99 million was paid in cash. The Church of Scientology has done many things at a remove or by a ruse, feint, or stratagem. Tyler Rice has run Carillon Flooring Center on North Fort Harrison for 30 years, the business his father started there in 1964. Candidates and Scientologists Emrani, Kintzel and . She said, Well, well have to invite you down for dinner, he recalled. During that period, downtown purchases by limited liability companies managed by members of Scientology accelerated. Originally founded in 1955, we are the oldest Scientology Church in Australia. Clearwater is the permanent home to more than 10,000 Scientology parishioners. Melitta electrics and accessories are manufactured, marketed and distributed under a licensing agreement. 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. 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. But that is where it ends. Nearly all of the properties were bought through limited liability companies, which are required to disclose their operators but not their owners. 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. 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. Scientologys survival depends on the preservation of its headquarters in Clearwater. 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. They didnt say what they were going to do with them, and I never asked, said Chesney, who works as the citys marine and aviation department director. Internal church documents detailed missions that planted spies in the state attorneys office, the Chamber of Commerce and the Clearwater Sun newspaper. 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. 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. can t use carpenter'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 [1] 2. At first, I just wanted to make a short video about the buildings and programs they are doing in clearwater. 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. Story by TRACEY McMANUS Members have to answer to their ethics officer for any act of disloyalty to Scientologys mission. This is a big giveaway in our view. The Church is the largest property taxpayer in downtown Clearwater, paying nearly $1 million in property taxes last year. ANTIFRAGILE LIMITED The Times also contacted representatives of all 32 companies it identified that bought downtown real estate over the past three years. MCMANUS: The reason Scientology has such an outsized influence is because of the cash and assets it has, which is estimated to be $3 billion. Over half are owned or operated by Scientologists. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So clearly they wanted these properties a great deal. The Times used the date that transactions were recorded in Clerk of Courts official record as the date of sale. Miscaviges offer to revitalize downtown hinged on the city ending its attempt to buy one vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. The only record of redevelopment that has occurred among the 45 properties is a roof replacement on a vacant building on North Fort Harrison Avenue and internal demolition in a former flooring center two blocks north, according to notices in Pinellas County records. David Gentile is creative with money and had hundreds of bank accounts and sub-funds when he ran GPB Capital. Most of the sales have not previously been reported. How Riley made the jump from a regional Coldwell Banker slot in Arizona to suddenly handling a proposed $350 million Clearwater Marina District development is certainly interesting and raises questions we are looking into. And the mayor at the time, Gabe Cazares, really raised the alarm. February 1976: Scientology files a $1 million lawsuit against Cazares alleging he violated its constitutional rights with his public criticism. An elevated walkway connects the building to the Fort Harrison Hotel, the churchs first purchase in the city in 1975. Many of the properties werent on the market when the deals were made. Then the council interfered with a land deal that Scientology demanded for its plan. Leading up to the waterfront, 22 of the first 33 buildings now have ties to Scientology. Scientologists annually contribute $87,867,000 to charitable endeavors, money that uplifts the quality of life in Clearwater. businesses owned by scientologists. Companies controlled by Hayes have bought about half the property on Rices block and nearly the entire block directly south. In a letter, the church said the Times is misinterpreting Scientology policy and that other religions also practice shunning. Thats a factor we do not control, Delk said. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. According to a new report by The Tampa Bay Times, the Church of Scientology and related entities now own over $260 million of property in downtown Clearwater. Made an offer. My plan is to keep renting, Huestler said. The church also targeted the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Justice and scores of foreign governments. Andrus helped carry out a plan to stop a Scientologist who had spied on the federal government from turning himself in to the FBI. And our analysis found that these church officials were offering two, three, four times what the property appraiser said the properties were valued. They have control over what businesses, if any, come in. This is the Church of Hyper-Surveillance that knows everything about the private and business lives of its members; their social media activities; and even what they did in their past lives. Licensing agreement was also bidding to charitable endeavors, money that uplifts the quality life. More than 10,000 Scientology parishioners the past three years that bought downtown Real Estate over world. 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