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. 275 reviews #24 of 428 Restaurants in Clearwater $ American Cafe Diner. "Then we realized our hotel room must have been bugged." After bolting from the center, $23,000 poorer, the Rowes say, they were chased repeatedly by Scientologists on foot and in cars. A for-lease sign sits in long-vacant retail space at The SkyView condo tower, owned by Scientologist and developer Moises Agami. Clarion Inn & Suites Central Clearwater Beach has an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, a restaurant and bar in Clearwater. Clearwater, FL is the town literally owned by Scientologists, so checks out Reply . Although that arrangement is standard in real estate, it makes it impossible to know whether the properties are owned by the Scientologists who manage the companies, the wealthy church or another hidden party. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. 3,594 Reviews . Shephard's Beach Resort. Paid in cash. The church requires followers to shun family members, friends and business contacts who defy it. The more its isolated and doesnt have people who are non-Scientologists around the area, the better.. New Pasco County commissioner accused of faking his residency, Guide to Plant Citys Strawberry Festival, one of the largest festivals in the nation, Gov. Flag is run by the churchs full-time workforce, the Sea Org, whose members sign billion-year contracts and work around the clock. The Church of Scientology acquired the building in 2017 as part of its downtown redevelopment plan. Osman Ozsan is, in our opinion, one of the more notable Scientologists you've never heard of. 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. It bought a hotel and wrote plans to take control of the city. Businesses might see this city project and say, yeah, let me take a chance on downtown and open up a business. He told Fischler that before Scientology bought the Fort Harrison Hotel in 1975 he worked there as a busboy. She reported full-time for six months, interviewing more than 90 people and reviewing more than 1,000 documents, to bring you this story. Letsgetstarted. After the Times reported the purchases, Miscavige acknowledged the properties were bought for a second revitalization strategy one devised by the church. 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. MCMANUS: Yeah, I think that the key here is the uncertainty. Clearwater is the center of that revenue stream. Since July 2019, eight limited liability companies managed or operated by members of the church have bought 45 properties in North Marina, including Chesneys. 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 Tyler Rice has run Carillon Flooring Center on North Fort Harrison for 30 years, the business his father started there in 1964. Church officials used a straw corporation to buy the historic Fort Harrison Hotel and moved in under a fake name. The Church of Scientology and its members are rapidly buying up a vast downtown neighborhood in a Florida city, according to a major investigation by the Tampa Bay Times. Huestler said broker Terri Novitsky calls him every now and again to see if hed be interested in selling. The lack of action from Scientology-tied buyers has precedent. The analysis did not include residential parcels except in cases where they were bought in conjunction with commercial property or vacant land. Real estate offices, vitamin shops and vacant storefronts fill prime locations that in a more vibrant downtown might hold breweries, restaurants and boutiques. Miscaviges offer to revitalize downtown hinged on the city ending its attempt to buy one vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with reporter Tracey McManus. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. 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. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. Leading up to the waterfront, 22 of the first 33 buildings now have ties to Scientology. "Working from home" after a hurricane means going to a hotel, since the power always goes out for between 2-7 days. Visit hotel website. They posted guards wielding billy clubs and mace. 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. Hes still holding out. 'Typically, when people buy commercial real estate, they move forward with construction or redevelopment. Most of the sales have not previously been reported. The Church did however slam the Times for its reporting for having a 'preconceived agenda to present every Scientology story in a false and unfavorable light.'. Delk described the projects which require voter approval as key to the plans success. City officials have long hoped for private investors to transform the North Marina Area, a 13-block district with undeveloped lots and 100-year-old bungalows overlooking Clearwater Harbor. The reason lies in rising tensions between the church and the Clearwater City Council. Critics of the church say that the Scientology bought the downtown properties to keep the public at bay. [quote] Florida Gov. Times Staff WritersOct. Scientology leader David Miscavige had his own redevelopment plan. Operatives framed the mayor in a staged hit-and-run and spread false rumors he was having an extramarital affair. By then, he had found an auto garage he could buy in Dunedin. Dozens of residents showed up to speak. Personal trainer, 22, describes what working in the fitness industry is like when you're curvy - and why Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane - UFC 285 LIVE: Follow all the action from main card ahead of HUGE heavyweight PETER HITCHENS: Now we know for sure that our leaders lost their heads over Covid. 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. Scientology spokesman Ben Shaw said in a statement that the church is not involved with the acquisitions. 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. It's Clearwater, FL. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Just out of curiosity, when you say the tactics that they used in the '70s, what were those? In addition to a park and amphitheater, Imagine Clearwater also calls for several new projects on the waterfront with residences and retail. ^ ??? Review. But many of those purchased properties remain shuttered or in disuse. Tom De Vocht, a former Scientology executive who oversaw the church's property in Clearwater from 1996 to 2001, said he believes Scientology is responding to the city's efforts by creating a. Flag is supposed to be an insulated oasis. Real estate agent David Kerr represented a buyer that paid more than three times what a property was valued by the county property appraiser. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard had written about doing away with governments and replacing them with a Scientology-run society. ), [ Slideshow: See every building owned by the church ], In the 90s, a Scientology magazine listed the churchs goals for 2000. They spent $6.5 million to renovate the public Seminole Boat Ramp, a popular centerpiece seen as a sign of the citys commitment. The Church's celebrity members Tom Cruise and John Travolta are known to have estates in Clearwater not far from the Scientology headquarters. The church also targeted the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Justice and scores of foreign governments. Religious Technology Center (RTC) is the primary manager of Scientology intellectual property. I mean, how big is the Church of Scientology where you are? 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. Right now, at least 30 businesses owned by non-parishioners are renting from Scientologists. Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? In just three years, starting with a frantic land grab in January 2017, Scientology doubled its footprint in the city. Scientology is all I have to say, There are no pros that unless you are a Scientologist. After a workout in our fitness center, begin your morning with our free hot breakfast, free hot coffee and free weekday newspaper in our . From $150.62 per night. Scientologys extraordinary influence over its members has been documented in government investigations and testimony from former parishioners throughout its 65-year history. Companies tied to the Church of Scientology paid millions in cash for 45 properties near downtown with no major plans in sight. Yarbrough never learned the buyers identity. A few months after Yarbrough relocated, a new electrical company moved into his old building. Seventy-one percent of the 60 parcels the Church of Scientology owns under its name in Pinellas County are tax-exempt for religious purposes. In late 2020, Terri Novitsky also was elected to the Downtown Development Board, an advisory group tasked with promoting downtown. They adopted a master plan in 2016 that envisioned housing, a hotel and shopping to complement what they hope will be Clearwaters revitalized downtown less than a mile to the south. You have well connected, https://m.facebook.com/jobs/job-opening/332924608432320/, Scientology a cult of lies scientology a cult of lies, https://www.mikerindersblog.org/scientology-businesses-in-clearwater/, Dealing With Scientology Critics - L Ron Hubbard Playbook, Buzzazz Business Solutions (Keanan Kintzel), Consumer Sales Solutions (Tom Cummins and Jim Bridgeforth), MGE Management Experts (Luis Colon, Greg Winteregg), Nelson Construction and Renovations (Gregory Nelson), NTC Nationwide Title Clearing (John Hillman, Todd Kugler, Norm Novitsky), Root Cause Medical Clinic (Rick and Vikki Petersen), Ted McGrath Brands (Jasmin Napier daughter-in-law of Mike Napier), The Tub Guy (Randy and Molly Baxter, she is the former CO FOLO EUS), Silkin Management Group (located in Portland OR), USA Tree Service LLC (Jim and Karen Kettner). 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. 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. When the council voted to buy the property, the chamber erupted in applause. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Explain to me why the paper has a Scientology reporter. Scientologists from across the globe make pilgrimages to the campus, called Flag. And inside those findings was a plan that Scientology operatives had created and written to establish area control. MCMANUS: Right - because the city officials have said that there's only so many factors they control. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. (On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Times reported that since 2017, companies run by members of Scientology bought another 86 downtown commercial properties. An empty Walgreens. It does not include properties recently bought by companies run by church members. There's parishioners that come here from all over the world to take courses in high level auditing that's not offered anywhere else. In addition, more is planned to occur on the "Ides of march" (March 15th) Which also happens to be L. Ron Hubbard's . Asked directly whether Scientology orchestrated or paid for any of the sales, the church did not answer. Nearly all of the roughly two dozen people listed as operating the companies are Scientologists. 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.. Gulf Coast Marine and ClearwaterPlumbing. A deserted coin laundry. The goal was to capture the area immediately surrounding both Scientologys headquarters, City Hall and the city-owned waterfront. During that period, downtown purchases by limited liability companies managed by members of Scientology accelerated. Visitors are expected to stay in Scientologys hotels and eat at private church restaurants. The other side of that is flag is run by the Sea Org, the Scientology's full-time workforce. But on days with no events, downtown feels deserted. They cant even fix their own families. The new owners also are sitting on about 30 undeveloped lots. Construction on eight townhomes on the south end of the marina began Oct. 1, according to county records. About 72 percent of those properties are tax exempt for religious uses. What you know is what you know and to have the courage to know and say what you have observed".- LRH from Personal Integrity, "It is necessary to happiness of man, that he be mentally faithful to himself. 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. (SOUNDBITE OF CHICK COREA'S "RETURN TO FOREVER"). or "selling postcards" or borrowing money. Since it was founded in 1955, Scientology has purchased hundreds, possibly thousands of buildings. A broker who was a Scientologist approached a downtown property owner. And Clearwater is home to one of the Church's most important bases, a campus called Flag, which established Scientologists from across the globe make pilgrimages to. Columnist Stephanie Hayes will share thoughts, feelings and funny business with you every Monday. GARCIA-NAVARRO: What is the view of the local community? He saw the area improve when police cracked down on drugs and prostitution decades ago. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. When will the Beast from the East be at YOUR door? DeSantis vetoed a $1M Day of Service program that was worth so much more | Column, DeSantis calls for open market to compete with Advanced Placement, Supreme Court weighs Biden student loan plan worth billions, Maple Leafs: Lightning, other division rivals did not spur deal, The youngest Grand Prix of St. Petersburg driver? You have some buyers here that their motivations are not really clear, he said, so its tough to make economic sense out of it.. They come from all walks of life, professions and ethnic groups. It said information in parishioner folders is sacrosanct and claims of blackmail have long since been disproven.. Then in 2017, companies controlled by parishioners began buying retail property at an unprecedented rate. City officials say their dedication to redeveloping the waterfront hasnt changed. [ The full history: Scientologys 40 years of conflict with the City of Clearwater, recapped ]. The most widely publicized death of one of the organization's members was that of 36-year-old Lisa McPherson while in the care of Scientologists at the Scientology-owned Fort Harrison Hotel, in Clearwater, Florida, in 1995.. What religion is Scientology similar to? Advance! CLEARWATER, Fla. In this small beachside community sits a 1.4-acre patch of dirt that has become a flash point in a fight between church and state. It set aside $10 million for secret real estate purchases in Clearwater. Llmenos para una consulta. Nearly all of the properties were bought through limited liability companies, which are required to disclose their operators but not their owners. Clearwater is a beautiful town and the downtown area is now a ghost town. The church acquired three others in a land swap. When buildings get important to us, for God sakes, some of you born revolutionists will you please blow up central headquarters". For the first time, a majority of the boards members will be Scientologists. 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. how to create a signature in outlook 365; hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater. ( magazine) Applied Philosophy. Most religions have a fundamentalist wing, Rinder said. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So tell me about these land purchases. 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. Thank you guys , Hello Mike, during the live chat you mentioned your first encounter with Mark Bunker back in the LMT years. Terri Novitsky and Hayes did not return calls and emails requesting comment. ), 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. 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. In 2017 the church acquired six downtown Clearwater retail properties through limited liability companies. Cruise, 56, is moving into a multimillion-dollar penthouse apartment at The SkyView, a 10 . Although I find Clearwater to be fairly safe, it has more crime than Naples. 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. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. 1,915 reviews. Theres no such thing in Scientology. But its potential is still untapped, with prime vacant land overlooking Clearwater Harbor. The Times used the date that transactions were recorded in Clerk of Courts official record as the date of sale. City officials are trying to make the area a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. Its designed not for recruiting new members but for hosting established followers. I really appreciate you all giving up your time to, Mike was probably getting a slew of YSCOHB texts from DM. '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 added. russia and china vs nato war who would win. Rebecca and Uri's father is Dr. David Minkoff, a physician and Church of Scientology member, who was partly implicated in Lisa McPherson's 1995 death. He was overseeing the religion from aboard a ship to avoid investigations into tax evasion and fraud when he selected Clearwater as a spiritual headquarters. by. The Fort Harrison Hotel serves as the flagship building of the Flag Land Base, the Church of Scientology 's spiritual headquarters in Clearwater, Florida, US. Mike Rinder, who led Scientologys intelligence arm before defecting in 2007, said any property owned by a parishioner is in the churchs control. in positive and negative effects of coca cola. Although Zano is not well known in Clearwater, the companies spent $16.7 million acquiring 26 commercial properties downtown. We believe it's important to shed light on a powerful institution that's very controversial and plays a big role in our community. They called it, quote, "little more than self-serving propaganda intended to give the appearance of objective reporting." Answer (1 of 12): Openly, they tend to congregate around the area of downtown where they work and own most of the real estate. The family of Moises Agami, a developer whose companies bought 20 storefronts and a parking lot last year, has donated at least $10 million. Karl Heinz Riedl, ("Chef Karl"), is the co-owner of Bon Appetit Group. The Church of Scientology and its parishioners now own a lot of real estate in Clearwater, Fla., as reported by the Tampa Bay Times. san jose state basketball recruiting; 5 types of imagery in the pedestrian. Story by TRACEY McMANUS 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. 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. (Everything owned by parishioner-run companies is still on the tax rolls. And the mayor. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. His partner is Scientologist Maria Dolores Gregori Fuster. Police were quick to respond. Conspiracy theories are nothing new when it comes to the Church of Scientology. Argall left the church and was forced to abandon his business of more than 20 years. BBC's 1million star Zoe Ball, 52, lands big new payday for Abba show on ITV. At least eight businesses that got new landlords tied to Scientology moved out and have not been replaced. New Pasco County commissioner accused of faking his residency, Guide to Plant Citys Strawberry Festival, one of the largest festivals in the nation, Gov. The church attracts members through a theology of self improvement and understanding. Clarion Inn & Suites Central Clearwater Beach. And the mayor at the time, Gabe Cazares, really raised the alarm. These workers sign billion year contracts, are paid very little, work around the clock. Among other things, Ozsan is, according to our source, Trish Duggan's money manager. It was owned by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. It is now 6PM. L Ron Hubbard From HCOPL URGENT ORG PROGRAMMING, "We own a tremendous amount of property. Share. Eventually, open tensions faded. And the tactics they were using to establish area control included infiltration, spying, smearing enemies. If the council in 2020 isnt on board with doing something his way, hes going to do it himself.. But the couple isnt ready to let go. Brian Andrus controls companies that last year bought a marina on N Osceola Avenue and six nearby properties, all bordering a redevelopment project at the citys public boat ramp. The city received an informal inquiry last year related to vacant land at the southeast corner of Seminole Street and North Fort Harrison Avenue. They doubled the churchs footprint in less than three years. Over the past two years, the properties surrounding the shop have been sold to Scientologist-controlled companies. In 2016, city consultants began planning what has become a $64 million effort to reinvigorate the waterfront called Imagine Clearwater. Miscavige cut off communication with the city. And half the sales were for more than double what the properties were valued by the county property appraiser, the Times found. 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. Scientology leader David Miscavige told city officials the properties were part of the churchs proposed retail redevelopment plan. After FBI raids uncovered the infiltrations, city officials launched their own investigations. These are the companies and names on this list (put into alphabetical order, I also added what are probably the largest scientology owned businesses in the area KnowB4, NTC, Consumer Sales Solutions and Energy Professionals: Axiom Bahia Property Management (Raul Aleman) Blue Streak Docs (Sam Gendusa) Buzzazz Business Solutions (Keanan Kintzel) Ron DeSantis on Monday undid a looming $1.2 billion tax hike on Central Florida residents that he inadvertently imposed a year ago in a hastily passed bill meant to punish Walt Disney Co. for criticizing his so-called "Don't Say Gay" law. Toni Says: What is Medicares creditable prescription drug coverage? Scientology hasn't answered directly why they've taken over the Clearwater area, but skeptics say it's to keep the public away. The stick out moment, is Tom Cruise auditing Marc, and failing., The live Q & A had great questions and answers. Theyve got one intention, and one intention only, De Vocht said. I thought this person was a cult member immediately . And Scientology has an interest in keeping that insulated according to former executives that we've interviewed. View Hotel. February 27, 2023 7:03 PM. Five unexpected signs in your 20s and 30s you're at risk of developing heart disease later in life. 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. But now these LLCs tied to Scientology control the retail district. The Tampa Bay Times reports that recent purchases doubled the combined real estate footprint of the church and its followers. Clearwater also has more vagrants. City leaders spent tens of millions improving streets, subsidizing residential projects and hiring consultants. When I have to go to that area, and see them in crowds moving from building to building doing their work ( whatever that is) I think of cockroaches, like whatever you do . He wanted the council to stop trying to buy a vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. But David Kerr, a local real estate agent and parishioner, walked in one day with an offer. You are a fundamentalist Scientologist, or youre not one at all.. The Tampa Bay Times discovered them by reviewing more than 1,000 deeds and business records, then interviewed more than 90 people to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding the transactions. While theres no law against hanging onto property, developers typically buy land, build on it and sell it for profit. srini devadas linkedin Fischler did not respond to phone messages, a certified letter or a note left at her condo. 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. Rice said hes been surprised that he has not been approached by brokers trying to buy his 10,000-square-foot building. hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater. Andrus, the former church operative, has broken ground on a condo tower near the citys boat ramp and filed plans for another housing complex nearby. 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. Boca Raton, FL . This month, Shahab Emrani was elected to the Downtown Development Board, which helps promote downtown.