Asked directly whether Scientology orchestrated or paid for any of the sales, the church did not answer. 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. 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. pauline hanson dancing with the stars; just jerk dance members; what happens if a teacher gets a dui 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. Reached at their condo, his wife declined to comment. CONNIE HUMBURG, TRACEY McMANUS, ELI MURRAY, ELI ZHANG | Times. In the world of poker this is called a tell. 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 does not include properties recently bought by companies run by church members. 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. If you are looking for a career where your coworkers and leadership care about you and your success, AMI is the right place! NIO stock swings lower after reporting losses that were much wider than expected, 3Ms stock surges after company says DOD data show 90% of earplug plaintiffs had normal hearing, Marc Benioffs Salesforce fairy tale is crumbling down around him. About $15.9 million was paid in cash. Now, companies connected to the Church of Scientology are buying tracts of land within the 55-acre district and not disclosing what they plan to do with them. All together, 32 companies bought 92 downtown properties since 2017. Our opinion is that Riley was instructed to get ahead of the story by bringing up Scientology before he was asked about it. So we kept our eye on the downtown purchases. Real estate agent David Kerr represented a buyer that paid more than three times what a property was valued by the county property appraiser. Originally founded in 1955, we are the oldest Scientology Church in Australia. He owns Stonebridge Real Estate and served as president of the Florida Gulfcoast Commercial Association of Realtors in 2017. 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. But Scientologist-controlled companies are also sitting on at least 26 vacant lots and 31 empty storefronts and offices. This makes no sense, except of course to a bigot.. . In an interview with Scientology-owned "Freedom Magazine" Gendusa said that she moved to Clearwater to study Scientology more than 25 years ago. I would ask that you clarify the reference to CBRE. He had committed to downtown in 1997. Brokers who are Scientologists approached at least 15 downtown owners about unlisted properties. An empty Walgreens. No one from the church dictates to me what to buy, what to sell, what to do.. Fischler did not respond to phone messages, a certified letter or a note left at her condo. 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. He is linked to the Church of Scientology via the Epsteins and Trish Duggan. The Times used the date that transactions were recorded in Clerk of Courts official record as the date of sale. If the council in 2020 isnt on board with doing something his way, hes going to do it himself.. 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. Nearly two years after the properties were sold to a company run by two Scientologists, no redevelopment plans have been submitted. Scientology has said it has 10 million followers, but surveys and accounts from former members suggest there are no more than 30,000 worldwide. February 1976: Scientology files a $1 million lawsuit against Cazares alleging he violated its constitutional rights with his public criticism. I saw a business opportunity, he said. Many of the properties werent on the market when the deals were made. Thats not happening with almost any of these properties., But Tal Ezra, a Scientologist who recently bought four parcels of land in downtown Clearwater, told the Times that he has plans for an office space and a retail shop. 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? It also has to be someone who trusts the Epsteins enough to invest with them. Typically, when people buy commercial real estate, they move forward with construction or redevelopment. Your characterization that his religious affiliations somehow control his business activities is evidence of personal bias against his religion, Zaretsky wrote. 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. Seventy-one percent of the 60 parcels the Church of Scientology owns under its name in Pinellas County are tax-exempt for religious purposes. Riley is also working with Gensler on the development. 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. She reported full-time for six months, interviewing more than 90 people and reviewing more than 1,000 documents, to bring you this story. Coincident with this Riley-registered RSR Capital Advisors as an LLC in Florida on March 21, 2022. Most religions have a fundamentalist wing, Rinder said. He took over Bob Lees Auto to continue the business legacy and served on the Downtown Development Board for a decade. DEUTERIUM INVESTMENT ADVISORS LIMITED What's more, the Times found a Scientology magazine from the 1990s that listed goals for the new millennium. Scientologys international spiritual headquarters is anchored by the Flag Building, on left. City officials are trying to make the area a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. The Church of Scientology and companies run by its members have spent $103 million since 2017 buying about 100 properties. Suspicion swirled. (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. Defectors have said they were paid less than $50 a week. Wayne E. Lee ran his Auto Parts Distributors business on Park Street since 1982. All five City Council members said they doubted the rash of purchases were unrelated. LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST: 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. Tal Ezra, a Scientologist who recently bought four parcels around an office where he has run his fuel management company since 2005, said hes considering office space and possibly a retail shop. Letsgetstarted. Florida migrant flights lawsuit dismissed in wake of Legislature passing law, Editorial Cartoons for Thursday from Times Wire Services, Bucs new coordinator is confident! And the properties cover about 100 acres. Visit a quote page and your recently viewed tickers will be displayed here. Through a spokesperson, Epstein said in an email that CA South looked into developing the properties on behalf of a client but walked away when the city did not relax a rule prohibiting a parking lot level facing North Fort Harrison Avenue. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Who are they buying from, and how much were they offering? Over the past two years, the properties surrounding the shop have been sold to Scientologist-controlled companies. 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. In both communities [comparing Mesa to Clearwater], there is a major presence of a church. And the tactics they were using to establish area control included infiltration, spying, smearing enemies. Church of Scientology website It is with great pride we welcome you to the Church of Scientology of Melbourne. 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. The project broke ground in August and is aimed at helping bring businesses and foot traffic to the empty storefronts in the surrounding blocks. Clearwater is the center of that revenue stream. 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. Fifty-three of those are for properties owned by companies run by himself with fellow Scientologist Emrani, a candidate in this election. Seven businesses have left following recent purchases, and at least three more are leaving this year, including Clearwater Plumbing and Gulf Coast Marine. The churchs campus grew slowly over decades. Ozsan has had a residence in London since 2001. 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. My sister is always struggling with money and drugs: I own a house with my husband and mother. The Florida Secretary of State records show the firm went dormant in 2012. But his offer had a catch. Theres no such thing in Scientology. I believe its irrational to buy property and not fully utilize it.. Osman Ozsan is of interest to us because he is connected to Rod Riley, a non-Scientologist realtor and real estate developer from Arizona. Rice said hes been surprised that he has not been approached by brokers trying to buy his 10,000-square-foot building. They have completed courses and spiritual counseling that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Investigative journalism like this is the most expensive work that we do. A sign in front of the business says, "Notice: This is one of the only spas in downtown Clearwater not owned by a Scientologist .". Miscaviges offer to revitalize downtown hinged on the city ending its attempt to buy one vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. Over half are owned or operated by Scientologists. A broker is trying to buy the building Peter and Emily Lares have owned for decades. 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. Today, 10 years later, the economic influence of Scientologists in the community is commensurately higher. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has bought 60 . Rodney Riley is the CEO of RSR Capital Advisors in Clearwater, Florida. An elevated walkway connects the building to the Fort Harrison Hotel, the churchs first purchase in the city in 1975. Osman Ozsan runs two funds in Clearwater: According to online records, Ozsan, Gregori And Company LLC has only two client accounts: Osman Ozsan is on the Advisory Board of CA South Development, a firm founded by Scientologists Megan and Stephen Epstein. Jim Huestler is the blocks only holdout with a rental home on the northeast corner. In the article cited, Riley makes an interesting comment (emphasis ours): The opportunity Riley is pursuing to activate the 21 acres is similar to his project in Mesa, Arizona, where he acquired and developed nine properties. Eventually, open tensions faded. When asked by the Tampa Bay Times about the 2017-2018 land purchases totaling $103 million made by Scientologists, Church attorney Gary Soter wrote a letter in which he stated: 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. 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. Ive been waiting for this neighborhood to clean up for 30 years, and I still think its around the corner, Rice said. Thats not happening with almost any of these properties., [ More reaction: What Clearwaters City Council thinks about Scientologys downtown takeover ]. ( magazine) Applied Philosophy ARC Straightwire (ARC stands for affinity-reality-communication) ARC Fil Direct Audited NOTs (NOT stands for NED [New Era Dianetics] Operating Thetan) The Auditor The downtown and North Marina properties bought by limited liability companies managed or operated by members of Scientology remain on the tax rolls. But David Kerr, a local real estate agent and parishioner, walked in one day with an offer. Rabid Cult: Scientology Bites Dog Food Company; Attacks Cream Cheese; and Screams at Rolling Stone Magazine, Podcast with Aaron Smith-Levin: Grant Cardone Lawsuit Update & David Gentile Criminal Case. GARCIA-NAVARRO: It's the type of servitude. (CBRE) in April 2016. There is no discrimination for or against *any* religion. After the City Council voted to buy the lot in April 2017, Miscavige refused to talk to city officials for the next two and a half years. Additional Clearwater real estate purchases began in 2019. Howd that go? The church promised to spend $55 million. Rod Riley has no background in Scientology. They started hosting concerts on the waterfront that now draw thousands. They paid $26 million. Times reporters built a database of hundreds of properties in the center of Clearwaters downtown. The main reason why developers didnt want it was they didnt want to be near the Church of Scientology, Searcy said. Its important for me to communicate with the Scientologists in Clearwater and have that ability to work side-by-side, Riley said, also noting he is now based in Clearwater. The campus collects millions each week through fundraising and payments for expensive courses and high-level religious counseling not offered anywhere else. Hormel says inflation, supply chain issues and weak sales hit earnings, Macy's shares surge as retailer posts earnings well ahead of forecasts, A supposed Scientology cruise ship is quarantined in St. Lucia over measles, Saturday Night Live star Chloe Fineman says Lorne Michaels gave her the best financial advice, As Republicans further intensify Hunter Biden focus, Attorney General Garland insists hes remained hands-off in years-old investigation, Teslas stock falls 5% as Elon Musks Master Plan 3 is short on details about both cars and finances, What's next for bonds in 2023 after the worst year in history. Amazing Place to Work. The new owners also are sitting on about 30 undeveloped lots. 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. The church acquired three others in a land swap. Over the next four decades, the church gradually amassed 58 properties in Clearwater under its name, 49 of them downtown. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard had written about doing away with governments and replacing them with a Scientology-run society. He wanted the council to stop trying to buy a vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. 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. Lares and his wife, Emily, sold the diner inside a decade ago. They now own most commercial property. 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