'However, it hasnt always been clear to me as to just what does that actually mean.'. Has the Church of Scientology ever killed anyone? Half the properties were bought since January 2017. Hes encouraged by city investments in the boat ramp and North Ward Elementary, and holds out hope that the undeveloped lots and dilapidated homes will be replaced with something vibrant. Seventy-three percent of the property is tax-exempt for religious purposes. Most did not respond or declined to comment. They came in under a fake name to buy the Fort Harrison Hotel, a historic hotel right in the center of downtown. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 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. The only thing you see is the Scientology minions ." Irwin said the church members are spotted wearing "brown dress . Karl Heinz Riedl, ("Chef Karl"), is the co-owner of Bon Appetit Group. The Church of Scientology is a group of interconnected corporate entities and other organizations devoted to the practice, administration and dissemination. But many of those purchased properties remain shuttered or in disuse. 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. Members have to answer to their ethics officer for any act of disloyalty to Scientologys mission. It teaches that expanding Scientology is key to saving the world, then wields a system of totalitarian policies to keep parishioners in line. There's parishioners that come here from all over the world to take courses in high level auditing that's not offered anywhere else. Concerned he wouldnt be able to pay his mortgage, Argall said he deeded the building, appraised at $780,000, back to the previous owner. 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. 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? 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. 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. 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. russia and china vs nato war who would win. His partner is Scientologist Maria Dolores Gregori Fuster. You are a fundamentalist Scientologist, or youre not one at all.. The church now completely controls the heart of the city, save for a few condominium tower and buildings owned by the government, the Tampa Bay Times discovered after reviewing 1,000 deeds and business records, shocking city leaders and residents at the scope of the churchs dominance. Answer (1 of 12): Openly, they tend to congregate around the area of downtown where they work and own most of the real estate. 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. Scientology is all I have to say, There are no pros that unless you are a Scientologist. The church offered $15 million for the parcel. Hamilton, who owns the Palm Pavilion on Clearwater Beach, said if he was going to buy a piece of commercial property, then he would have plans for it before he acquired it and would head straight. 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. 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The Fort Harrison Hotel is located in Clearwater, Florida, and besides being an exclusive Scientology hotel, it is a high-level training center and the church's spiritual headquarters. Visitors walk through downtown on a Friday. 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. It has terrorized defectors with private investigators, smear campaigns and relentless litigation. Jim is a nationally known artist. L Ron Hubbard From HCOPL URGENT ORG PROGRAMMING, "We own a tremendous amount of property. The churchs influence comes from its massive wealth, estimated around $3billion in cash and assets, collected from devoted followers. Scientology boasts 10million followers, but surveys and accounts from former members suggest there are no more than 30,000 worldwide. Please consider supporting us with a tax-deductible donation to the Tampa Bay Times Investigative Fund. Fischler offered Bosi $1.4 million, almost three times what the property was valued. 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.'. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Who are they buying from, and how much were they offering? This one is owned by a parishioner who had been featured on the churchs Meet a Scientologist video series. The church bought the 220-room hotel secretly in 1975, and since then, it has witnessed a number of unusual deaths. I dont know what their plan is.. [quote] Florida Gov. A few weeks later, John Yarbrough sold the building where he had run his electrical services business for 22 years. (Everything owned by parishioner-run companies is still on the tax rolls. It is owned and operated by the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, Inc., a subsidiary of the Church of Scientology International . 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. By then, he had found an auto garage he could buy in Dunedin. Leading up to the waterfront, 22 of the first 33 buildings now have ties to Scientology. Over half are owned or operated by Scientologists. Church of Scientology campus in Clearwater, Fla. mokee81/iStock The Church of Scientology, its members and companies controlled by its members have spent $103 million over the past three. He had committed to downtown in 1997. City officials are suspicious that the church could be planning to do something with the land they now posses. 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. In 1975, Scientology creator L. Ron Hubbard bought a historic hotel in downtown Clearwater. church of 8 wheels closing; forest fair village shopping mall; 10Jun. They spent $6.5 million to renovate the public Seminole Boat Ramp, a popular centerpiece seen as a sign of the citys commitment. He demanded to see their financials, their board of directors. But after Anthony How Scientology doubled its downtown Clearwater footprint in 3 years | Investigations | Tampa Bay Times, Do not sell or share my personal information. Most of the sales have not previously been reported. Right now, at least 30 businesses owned by non-parishioners are renting from Scientologists. 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. 325 . They haven't submitted redevelopment plans. The impact is clearest in the heart of downtown. 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. He wanted the council to stop trying to buy a vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. Scientology came to downtown Clearwater in 1975. After a workout in our fitness center, begin your morning with our free hot breakfast, free hot coffee and free weekday newspaper in our . 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. 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. The property wasnt on the market. The Times counted each parcel that was assigned a value by the property appraiser as a single property with five exceptions. Charles 'will NEVER build real relationship with Archie and Lili unless Harry and Meghan get new royal 'Putin has STOLEN our Ukrainian children': Distraught parents tell how THOUSANDS of youngsters never EMILY PRESCOTT: Sarah Ferguson 'confused' after seeing photos from goddaughter's wedding she thought she was Joe Biden is 'unlikely' to attend King Charles' coronation due to Ireland trip - despite promising to A 14-year-old autistic boy's naive prank. It also operates the Fairfield Inn & Suites on Clearwater Beach. They haven't started construction - or are they going to redevelop them and bring businesses in and contribute to a vibrant downtown? But the couple isnt ready to let go. The Jerry Maguire star recently purchased a two-storey penthouse in downtown Clearwater, Floridaclose to the Scientology HQ. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Just out of curiosity, when you say the tactics that they used in the '70s, what were those? Nearly all of the roughly two dozen people listed as operating the companies are Scientologists. The Times also contacted representatives of all 32 companies it identified that bought downtown real estate over the past three years. The analysis did not include residential parcels except in cases where they were bought in conjunction with commercial property or vacant land. Miscaviges offer to revitalize downtown hinged on the city ending its attempt to buy one vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. And it's all surrounding the city's downtown waterfront. 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.. Save. MCMANUS: It kind of started in early 2017. 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). Companies controlled by Hayes have bought about half the property on Rices block and nearly the entire block directly south. Buy up as much property as they can for the church whether they use it or not, whether they let it sit there and rot so no one else can be there,'Tom De Vocht, a former Scientology executive who oversaw the churchs property in Clearwater from 1996 to 2001, said. the Church of Scientology and Clearwater is incapable of being an honest hard-working partner with the city of Clearwater in revitalizing this town it's not possible because it's against their fundamental best interests this is the reason all of the Scientologists in the in Clearwater were instructed by the Office of Special Affairs to . Clearwater 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. For Sale: 500000 - Residential, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,315 sqft at 1359 HOWARD STREET in Clearwater South. City officials plan to partner with a developer on ways to adapt the red brick schoolhouse, like turning it into a hub for restaurants, retail, or apartments. Although Zano is not well known in Clearwater, the companies spent $16.7 million acquiring 26 commercial properties downtown. Both are supposed to open soon. In summer 2018, Fischler walked into Bob Lees Auto Repair on Park Street to make owner Dennis Bosi an offer. 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. Flag is run by thechurchs notorious full-time workforce, the Sea Org, whose members sign billion-year contracts. hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater. Interactive map reveals when you may see SNOW, Kate Garraway reveals Derek's heartbreaking words when they thought he had just minutes left to live. Real estate agent David Kerr represented a buyer that paid more than three times what a property was valued by the county property appraiser. 'There is nothing unnatural about Scientologists wanting to live in the same city that houses the international spiritual headquarters of their church,' a letter signed by Scientology attorney Gary Soter to the Times said. Hubbard had a vision of making Clearwater a spiritual home for his Church of Scientology. Scientology founderL. Ron Hubbard called Clearwater its spiritual headquarters. Andrus did not respond to an email, phone message, a note left at his office or a certified letter. A deserted coin laundry. in positive and negative effects of coca cola. Clearwater is home to one of the Church's most important bases, a campus called Flag (above), which Scientologists across the globe make pilgrimages to. At least eight businesses that got new landlords tied to Scientology moved out and have not been replaced. Brokers who are Scientologists approached at least 15 downtown owners about unlisted properties. None of the other parishioners whose companies bought property since 2017 responded to questions about their plans. MCMANUS: Well, our reporting shows that Scientology has a big interest in preserving its downtown campus. They keep their operations going. An elevated walkway connects the building to the Fort Harrison Hotel, the churchs first purchase in the city in 1975. 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. A scuffed copy of the Koran. Fifty-eight are in the city of Clearwater and 49 are downtown. And he was going to recruit high-end retail to some of the empty storefronts because downtown Clearwater's pretty depressed. srini devadas linkedin Scientologists make up a diverse group in Clearwater. Philip Kirkpatrick, Clearwaters senior economic development coordinator, said Stephen Epstein spoke with city officials in December about a potential commercial and multifamily project on the site. Nearly two years after the properties were sold to a company run by two Scientologists, no redevelopment plans have been submitted. Scientology in Clearwater Big Brother is Watching You. commercial meat slicer rental near me. The city and the church fought in court for years. 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. GARCIA-NAVARRO: What is the view of the local community? The gallery does not include properties bought by companies run by church members. Save. The Church told DailyMail.com: 'The Times article is simply the latest in its continuing and unending obsession with Scientology and is little more than self-serving propaganda intended to give the appearance of objective reporting without reporting the actual facts to the reader.'. They now own most commercial property on every block within walking distance of the waterfront, putting the secretive church firmly in control of the areas future. Most of the new owners have done little with their acquisitions. CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) A newspaper report says the Church of Scientology and companies run by its members spent more than $100 million over the past . We own a tremendous amount of material and so forth, and it keeps growing. Eventually, open tensions faded. 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.