The origin story for the CB in CBRE does come from Coldwell Banker, but that was a very long time ago. 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. 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. The campus collects millions each week through fundraising and payments for expensive courses and high-level religious counseling not offered anywhere else. In the world of scientologywhere anything goes and all laws in the wog world by damnedits Christmas 24/7. . Fischler approached Bosi again in September. Huestler said broker Terri Novitsky calls him every now and again to see if hed be interested in selling. The property wasnt on the market. The church stopped communicating with the city. Bosi wasnt interested. 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. Help us keep bringing stories like this to you. Real estate agent Brian Andrus controls seven properties bought around the citys public boat ramp. They haven't started construction - or are they going to redevelop them and bring businesses in and contribute to a vibrant downtown? Seven businesses have left following recent purchases, and at least three more are leaving this year, including Clearwater Plumbing and Gulf Coast Marine. The owner of a nationwide company that makes and markets aloe vera skin cream. Letsgetstarted. All together, 32 companies bought 92 downtown properties since 2017. 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. 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. The goal was to capture the area immediately surrounding both Scientologys headquarters, City Hall and the city-owned waterfront. All 45 North Marina properties were purchased by companies managed or operated by two longtime members of Scientology: Steven Hayes, an attorney who has done legal work on behalf of church related organizations for more than two decades, and Norm Novitsky, a businessperson who has donated at least $5 million to Scientology. It teaches that expanding Scientology is key to saving the world, then wields a system of totalitarian policies to keep parishioners in line. The new owners also are sitting on about 30 undeveloped lots. It set aside $10 million for secret real estate purchases in Clearwater. Scientologys international spiritual headquarters is anchored by the Flag Building, on left. The greatest number of properties were bought by companies controlled by either Israeli businessman Itzhak Zano or another Scientologist who represents him. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. It also has to be someone who trusts the Epsteins enough to invest with them. And half the sales were for more than double what the properties were valued by the county property appraiser, the Times found. The Times described sales as cash transactions when they were paid without a mortgage filed in public records. The Florida Secretary of State records show the firm went dormant in 2012. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has bought 60 . Scientologys extraordinary influence over its members has been documented in government investigations and testimony from former parishioners throughout its 65-year history. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. 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. There's parishioners that come here from all over the world to take courses in high level auditing that's not offered anywhere else. The analysis considered property within the general boundaries of Cedar Street to the north, Missouri Avenue to the east, Chestnut Street to the south and the Intracoastal Waterway to the west. Mike Rinder, who led Scientologys intelligence arm before defecting in 2007, said any property owned by a parishioner is in the churchs control. Nicole Lyn Pesce is News Editor, Trending at MarketWatch and is based in New York. . Most religions have a fundamentalist wing, Rinder said. 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. February 1976: Scientology files a $1 million lawsuit against Cazares alleging he violated its constitutional rights with his public criticism. ( 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 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. Gentile also purchased several Clearwater companies owned by Scientologists who may have invested the proceeds into land deals. About $15.9 million was paid in cash. 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 to the Tampa Bay Times. Members have to answer to their ethics officer for any act of disloyalty to Scientologys mission. Holding and president of Graymoss, Inc. [27] The architectural firm HOK was hired to deliver the project. The more its isolated and doesnt have people who are non-Scientologists around the area, the better.. Among them was to make Clearwater known as the first Scientology city in the world.. In recent puff piece media coverage in Clearwater, we are told that Riley: is in the process of buying 15 tracts in the Clearwater Marina area to develop what he is calling the Clearwater Marina District a connected walkable community with modern offices, retail, luxury condos and a boutique hotel, as well as affordable housing. Hayes, the attorney and parishioner involved in the rest of the North Marina purchases, was added as manager on the companies filings. Times reporters built a database of hundreds of properties in the center of Clearwaters downtown. Story by TRACEY McMANUS Gulf Coast Marine and ClearwaterPlumbing. They keep their operations going. In 2002, she was listed as an international deputy of a committee tasked with disseminating Scientology doctrine. The other side of that is flag is run by the Sea Org, the Scientology's full-time workforce. 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, Horne said. Assistant City Manager Michael Delk said the citys priority is turning the spectacular land it owns into a community destination, no matter who owns the private property around it. 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. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has purchased 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name. But they werent ready to sell the building, which they had owned for 27 years. 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. pauline hanson dancing with the stars; just jerk dance members; what happens if a teacher gets a dui A few months after Yarbrough relocated, a new electrical company moved into his old building. In late 2020, Terri Novitsky also was elected to the Downtown Development Board, an advisory group tasked with promoting downtown. Operatives framed the mayor in a staged hit-and-run and spread false rumors he was having an extramarital affair. Delk described the projects which require voter approval as key to the plans success. In North America, Melitta is the leading brand of coffee filters. Mayor Jane Castors partner vowed not to lobby the city. Sponsored by HomeIPO.org Is it possible to get money (maybe $50k) without a loan? 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. How much of Clearwater is owned by Scientology? They haven't submitted redevelopment plans. But its potential is still untapped, with prime vacant land overlooking Clearwater Harbor. A sign in front of the business says, "Notice: This is one of the only spas in downtown Clearwater not owned by a Scientologist .". This is a very interesting report. He demanded to see their financials, their board of directors. Nearly all of the properties were bought through limited liability companies, which are required to disclose their operators but not their owners. And in 1977, the FBI raided Scientology's headquarters in LA and D.C. And they uncovered hundreds of thousands of memos and documents. This month, Shahab Emrani was elected to the Downtown Development Board, which helps promote downtown. Companies controlled by Hayes have bought about half the property on Rices block and nearly the entire block directly south. Religious Technology Center (RTC) is the primary manager of Scientology intellectual property. 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. Business Outlook. Getty. In the 70s, Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in a Scientology plan to infiltrate the government. Thank you for having us. and last updated 7:53 PM, Oct 21, 2019. Typically, when people buy commercial real estate, they move forward with construction or redevelopment. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has purchased 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name. A broker is trying to buy the building Peter and Emily Lares have owned for decades. Those six lots were bought in November 2020 by a limited liability company then-managed by an employee of CA South, a Nashville-based real estate firm founded by Megan Epstein and advised by her husband, Stephen Epstein, both members of Scientology. If so, it's technically possible with a home IPO. In six cases, buyers paid quadruple the propertys value. Accuracy and availability may vary. Thank you very much. He called the Tampa Bay Times questions about parishioners activity not just stupid, false and offensive, but un-American., You talk out of both sides of your mouth: If redevelopment is being done by the city or a member of another religion, not Scientology, it is good; if redevelopment is being done by a Scientologist, it is bad, Shaw said. Please consider supporting us with a tax-deductible donation to the Tampa Bay Times Investigative Fund. Among other things, Ozsan is, according to our source, Trish Duggans money manager. Then walk down Cleveland Street downtowns main artery. The 1.4 acre lot was across the street from City Hall and adjacent to a 13-story Scientology religious retreat. But in the 70s, Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in Scientologys government espionage scheme, which sent 11 Scientologists to federal prison. 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. Please! The project broke ground in August and is aimed at helping bring businesses and foot traffic to the empty storefronts in the surrounding blocks. But that is where it ends. A for-lease sign sits in long-vacant retail space at The SkyView condo tower, owned by Scientologist and developer Moises Agami. Then the council interfered with a land deal that Scientology demanded for its plan. Visit a quote page and your recently viewed tickers will be displayed here. Businesses might see this city project and say, yeah, let me take a chance on downtown and open up a business. Osman Ozsan is, in our opinion, one of the more notable Scientologists youve never heard of. Over the past two years, the properties surrounding the shop have been sold to Scientologist-controlled companies. This is a big giveaway in our view. The main reason why developers didnt want it was they didnt want to be near the Church of Scientology, Searcy said. Epstein could have simply told the reporter his client was not the Church of Scientology and left it at that. 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. Once we dug into the data and pulled records, we found that LLCs tied to the Church of Scientology had bought about 100 properties. (CBRE) in April 2016. At least eight businesses that got new landlords tied to Scientology moved out and have not been replaced. Some of the parishioners have a history of working on Scientologys behalf. Zano did not respond to questions about what his plans for the properties. DEUTERIUM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED 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. Construction on eight townhomes on the south end of the marina began Oct. 1, according to county records. But the couple isnt ready to let go. A lot of them are vacant lots, vacant buildings, empty storefronts. My sister is always struggling with money and drugs: I own a house with my husband and mother. 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. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard had written about doing away with governments and replacing them with a Scientology-run society. Miscaviges offer to revitalize downtown hinged on the city ending its attempt to buy one vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. Riley had no reason to mention that he had worked with Mormons and will now work to communicate with the Scientologists in Clearwater. This reads like deliberately premanufactured PR to us. In interviews, sellers said most of the transactions unfolded the same way. And the tactics they were using to establish area control included infiltration, spying, smearing enemies. CLEARWATER An old jewelry store on the corner of Cleveland Street that welcomes visitors to the core of downtown sits empty, unchanged since a company managed by a Church of Scientology. Cons. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with reporter Tracey McManus. Lares declined again when Fischler met him at a restaurant in Pinellas Park for lunch, and once more when she tried in May. Of the 100 properties bought by parishioner-managed companies near the downtown waterfront from 2017 to 2019, 24 storefronts and buildings remain empty, including a former Walgreens, an old jewelry store and prominent buildings along the North Fort Harrison corridor. That's the findings of a story in the Tampa Bay Times that's headlined clear takeover. This purchase was part of Project Normandy, a covert Scientology program to take over Clearwater. Former parishioners say the church has a history of interfering in Scientologists downtown business. 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. The total of all Scientology-connected Clearwater real estate purchases $114.8 million. The city has no record yet of redevelopment plans being submitted for any of the North Marina properties since the purchases began, according to planning and development director Gina Clayton. Mayor George Cretekos listens at a City Council meeting in April 2017 as residents pushed the council to purchase a vacant lot that Scientology also wanted. 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. 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. The churchs campus grew slowly over decades. Advance! GARCIA-NAVARRO: So clearly they wanted these properties a great deal. City leaders spent tens of millions improving streets, subsidizing residential projects and hiring consultants. My true love gave to me/Three French hens/Two turtle doves/And a partridge in a pear tree). And it's all surrounding the city's downtown waterfront. He is linked to the Church of Scientology via the Epsteins and Trish Duggan. Hibbard previously served as Mayor from 2005 until 2012, leaving office because of term limits. Andrus did not respond to a phone message or email inquiring if he was involved in the 45 purchases in the blocks surrounding his condo project. City officials are trying to make the area a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. Seventy-three percent of the property is tax-exempt for religious purposes. Its designed not for recruiting new members but for hosting established followers. ), 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. Dozens of residents showed up to speak. But the promised downtown revival never came. MCMANUS: Yeah, I think that the key here is the uncertainty. Everyone in KnowBe4 knows I'm a (proud) Scientologist. 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. The impact is clearest in the heart of downtown. Copyright 2019 NPR. Most of the sales have not previously been reported. Recommend. After leaving Caliber Wells, Rodney Riley began working with Megan and Stephen Epstein. In 2016, city consultants began planning what has become a $64 million effort to reinvigorate the waterfront called Imagine Clearwater. High-ranking defectors provide an unprecedented inside look at Scientology, its leader and the Lisa McPherson case. Of all Scientology-connected Clearwater real estate agent Brian Andrus controls seven properties bought around the citys public boat ramp with! 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