To reiterate our earlier point, Ozsan, Gregori And Company LLC has only two client accounts. I had to make a decision, Bosi said. Scientologists Brett Miller and Joanie and Steve Sigal recommended Frank Hibbard for Mayor. He had committed to downtown in 1997. 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. Tyler Rice has run Carillon Flooring Center on North Fort Harrison for 30 years, the business his father started there in 1964. 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. Real estate agent Brian Andrus controls seven properties bought around the citys public boat ramp. Lee sold when Fischler upped her offer to $410,000 cash for the building valued at $109,000 by the property appraiser. The church has amassed 60 properties in Pinellas County since arriving in 1975. 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. But in the 70s, Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in Scientologys government espionage scheme, which sent 11 Scientologists to federal prison. This is a story for another time. Church of Scientology website It is with great pride we welcome you to the Church of Scientology of Melbourne. The church also targeted the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Justice and scores of foreign governments. Recommend. 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. Scientology leader David Miscavige had his own redevelopment plan. Osman Ozsan is of interest to us because he is connected to Rod Riley, a non-Scientologist realtor and real estate developer from Arizona. businesses owned by scientologistsdoes keegan allen have a child 26th February 2023 / in west warwick viewpoint / by / in west warwick viewpoint / by The total of all Scientology-connected Clearwater real estate purchases $114.8 million. 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. And the properties cover about 100 acres. MCMANUS: Yeah, that's a good question. 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. David Gentile is creative with money and had hundreds of bank accounts and sub-funds when he ran GPB Capital. 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. A for-lease sign sits in long-vacant retail space at The SkyView condo tower, owned by Scientologist and developer Moises Agami. Flag is what they call it, and it's the international spiritual headquarters of the church. Gensler does all the architectural work for Scientologys Ideal Orgs. . They came in under a fake name to buy the Fort Harrison Hotel, a historic hotel right in the center of downtown. If the council in 2020 isnt on board with doing something his way, hes going to do it himself.. (I'm in Clearwater). Mayor Jane Castors partner vowed not to lobby the city. In 2017 the church acquired six downtown Clearwater retail properties through limited liability companies. City leaders spent tens of millions improving streets, subsidizing residential projects and hiring consultants. 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. Terri Novitsky and Hayes did not return calls and emails requesting comment. They posted guards wielding billy clubs and mace. 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. In those cases, four or more parcels purchased together clearly comprised a single piece of real estate. Block after block, vacant lots sit untouched, and storefronts remain empty: A former jewelry store. 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. In January and February 2017, a handful of limited liability companies bought six prime downtown parcels. The campus collects millions each week through fundraising and payments for expensive courses and high-level religious counseling not offered anywhere else. CONNIE HUMBURG, TRACEY McMANUS, ELI MURRAY, ELI ZHANG | Times. Nicole Lyn Pesce is News Editor, Trending at MarketWatch and is based in New York. There is no discrimination for or against *any* religion. 2. Its like they are trying to control the whole thing.. Gentile also purchased several Clearwater companies owned by Scientologists who may have invested the proceeds into land deals. Concerned he wouldnt be able to pay his mortgage, Argall said he deeded the building, appraised at $780,000, back to the previous owner. 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 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. He took over Bob Lees Auto to continue the business legacy and served on the Downtown Development Board for a decade. And it's all surrounding the city's downtown waterfront. 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. CEO Approval. Scientologists deal with useful non-Scientologists quite often. Scientology has said it has 10 million followers, but surveys and accounts from former members suggest there are no more than 30,000 worldwide. The goal was to capture the area immediately surrounding both Scientologys headquarters, City Hall and the city-owned waterfront. Almost immediately, a decades-long trickle of purchases by church members turned into a flood. Flag is supposed to be an insulated oasis. Copyright 2019 NPR. 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. The most recent deal came when a New York firm bought a former demolition yard on Nicholson Street for $593,400 on Oct. 20 and then flipped it two days later for $1 million in cash to one of the Scientology-tied limited liability companies, according to property records. So we kept our eye on the downtown purchases. MCMANUS: Brokers representing these companies were approaching downtown property owners. The greatest number of properties were bought by companies controlled by either Israeli businessman Itzhak Zano or another Scientologist who represents him. He is linked to the Church of Scientology via the Epsteins and Trish Duggan. ), [ Slideshow: See every building owned by the church ], In the 90s, a Scientology magazine listed the churchs goals for 2000. CBRE is an acronym for CB Richard Ellis. When the council voted to buy the property, the chamber erupted in applause. The Scientology leader had offered the Clearwater Marine Aquarium $15 million for that 1.4-acre grass lot on Pierce Street. Reached at their condo, his wife declined to comment. 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. EMPIRICAL PROSPECTING COMPANY LIMITED. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. 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 Church of Scientology and companies run by its members spent $103 million over the past three years buying up vast sections of downtown Clearwater. This is a story for another time. It bought a hotel and wrote plans to take control of the city. Pros. 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. 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. 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. Thats not happening with almost any of these properties., [ More reaction: What Clearwaters City Council thinks about Scientologys downtown takeover ]. The report notes that half of these properties have been bought since January 2017 after the organization and the Clearwater City Council presented competing redevelopment projects to the downtown district and its waterfront. 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. Epstein declined to name his client but responded to questions from the Times with an affidavit declaring it was not the Church of Scientology. If this is Trish Duggans money, and Scientologist Osman Ozsan manages her money, then that could very likely make Trish Duggan the Scientologist financier behind the scenes on the Clearwater land purchases. And the tactics they were using to establish area control included infiltration, spying, smearing enemies. 1. synergy rv transport pay rate; stephen randolph todd. 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. After his stint at CBRE, Riley worked for Caliber Wells in Scottsdale, Arizona and then left the firm. DEUTERIUM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED ARKWRIGHT ROAD LIMITED 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. How much of Clearwater is owned by Scientology? GARCIA-NAVARRO: And I guess the larger concern is that this could really thwart the city's plans for redevelopment if the Scientologist organizations are going to have all this property that they're going to keep for their own purposes. The Church of Scientology has done many things at a remove or by a ruse, feint, or stratagem. Welcome. Seventy-one percent of the 60 parcels the Church of Scientology owns under its name in Pinellas County are tax-exempt for religious purposes. A few months later, the newcomers admitted they were actually Scientology. This means the total revenue of the "300" scientology businesses that are owned by the 9700 local scientologists is equivalent to 7.5 average car dealers. (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. 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. Osman Ozsan is, in our opinion, one of the more notable Scientologists youve never heard of. But Lee assumed the church was involved. The Times counted each parcel that was assigned a value by the property appraiser as a single property with five exceptions. We built a graphic demonstrating just how little is left. We previously reported on CA South Development. You are a fundamentalist Scientologist, or youre not one at all.. Companies controlled by Hayes have bought about half the property on Rices block and nearly the entire block directly south. In summer 2018, Fischler walked into Bob Lees Auto Repair on Park Street to make owner Dennis Bosi an offer. According to his resume, he started the firm in 2003. If Epsteins client was not the Church of Scientology then who is his client? Sep 19, 2022 - Anonymous Employee in Clearwater, FL. 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. In late 2020, Terri Novitsky also was elected to the Downtown Development Board, an advisory group tasked with promoting downtown. 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. Construction on eight townhomes on the south end of the marina began Oct. 1, according to county records. City officials say their dedication to redeveloping the waterfront hasnt changed. Instead, the aquarium sold it to the city in April 2017 for a lot less $4.25 million. Zano did not respond to questions about what his plans for the properties. For the first time, a majority of the boards members will be Scientologists. We reported at that time that a handful of limited liability companies bought about six downtown properties, and Scientology leader David Miscavige had presented a retail plan to two city staff officials. At first, I just wanted to make a short video about the buildings and programs they are doing in clearwater. Cazares responds with an $8 million libel suit. The church has shed no light on its plans. Take away the church footprint, a few condo towers and all buildings owned by the government. Internal church documents detailed missions that planted spies in the state attorneys office, the Chamber of Commerce and the Clearwater Sun newspaper. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has purchased 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name. Four high-ranking defectors describe bizarre behavior and physical beatings inflicted by Scientology leader David Miscavige. Accuracy and availability may vary. And the Times found that in six cases buyers paid quadruple a propertys value. 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. ), 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. On Sept. 7, Epsteins employee was removed from the corporate filings of the company that own the land. Ive been waiting for this neighborhood to clean up for 30 years, and I still think its around the corner, Rice said. Thank you very much. It is headed by David Miscavige [1] . Rice said hes been surprised that he has not been approached by brokers trying to buy his 10,000-square-foot building. In the world of poker this is called a tell. They doubled the churchs footprint in less than three years. 9,523 Scientologists live in the Tampa Bay area. It would be the same if I was a (proud) Christian, Jew, or Muslim. We are an equal opportunity employer and fully EEOC compliant. He publicly asked why there were security cards with billy clubs and mace on the roof. Scientology came to downtown Clearwater in 1975. The church promised to spend $55 million. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Explain to me why the paper has a Scientology reporter. Osman Ozsan has been a Scientologist since the 1990s. Good luck on that. 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. Lares and his wife, Emily, sold the diner inside a decade ago. The Times used the date that transactions were recorded in Clerk of Courts official record as the date of sale. Coincident with this Riley-registered RSR Capital Advisors as an LLC in Florida on March 21, 2022. (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. It was a very turbulent time. Many of the properties werent on the market. 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. Holding and president of Graymoss, Inc. [27] The architectural firm HOK was hired to deliver the project. And it's also basically the financial nucleus of the entire organization. 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. The Tampa Bay Times reports that members of the church have spent $103 million on property in the city of Clearwater known as "The first Scientology city" since . Our opinion is that Riley was instructed to get ahead of the story by bringing up Scientology before he was asked about it. Then the council interfered with a land deal that Scientology demanded for its plan. A broker who was a Scientologist approached a downtown property owner. Nearly all of the properties were bought through limited liability companies, which are required to disclose their operators but not their owners. Fischler approached Bosi again in September. 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. Even city leaders said they didnt know the full extent of the purchases until they were shown maps created by the Times. The land grab started as tensions grew between the church and the Clearwater City Council. GARCIA-NAVARRO: It's the type of servitude. Religious Technology Center (RTC) is the primary manager of Scientology intellectual property. On Sept. 7, Epsteins employee was removed from the corporate filings of the company that own the land. In 2002, she was listed as an international deputy of a committee tasked with disseminating Scientology doctrine. It said information in parishioner folders is sacrosanct and claims of blackmail have long since been disproven.. 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. Inc. magazine's 2019 report on the 5,000 fastest-growing privately owned businesses in America cites 16 firms based in Clearwater. The church, its members and companies they control now own 185 properties that cover 101 acres in the center of downtown. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard had written about doing away with governments and replacing them with a Scientology-run society. Over the next four decades, the church gradually amassed 58 properties in Clearwater under its name, 49 of them downtown. Right now, at least 30 businesses owned by non-parishioners are renting from Scientologists. He wanted the council to stop trying to buy a vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. I would assume hes a Scientologist or involved with them in some fashion. I dont know what their plan is.. Clearwater is the center of that revenue stream. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler brokered at least 10 downtown sales on behalf of seven buyers. Rodney Riley is an interesting character in this whole thing. The lack of action from Scientology-tied buyers has precedent. It has terrorized defectors with private investigators, smear campaigns and relentless litigation. And half the sales were for more than double what the properties were valued by the county property appraiser, the Times found. Delk described the projects which require voter approval as key to the plans success. In the world of scientologywhere anything goes and all laws in the wog world by damnedits Christmas 24/7. [ The full history: Scientologys 40 years of conflict with the City of Clearwater, recapped ]. In mid-2018, one year before the string of North Marina purchases took off, a company controlled by developer Brian Andrus, a longtime member of Scientology, bought the private marina next to the citys Seminole Boat Ramp. Theres no such thing in Scientology. They have control over what businesses, if any, come in. The church offered $15 million for the parcel. 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.. Asked directly whether Scientology orchestrated or paid for any of the sales, the church did not answer. Some of the parishioners have a history of working on Scientologys behalf. What Clearwaters City Council thinks, Scientologys 40 years of conflict with Clearwater, recapped, See a slideshow of all the churchs buildings. It is a big faux pas in business PR to bring up the subject of religion when it is absolutely unnecessary to do so. If so, it's technically possible with a home IPO. Scientologist normally dont deal with outsiders in my experience. But David Kerr, a local real estate agent and parishioner, walked in one day with an offer. Please! AMI's culture and team members truly make AMI an amazing place to work! Dozens of residents showed up to speak. Brokers who are Scientologists approached at least 15 downtown owners about unlisted properties. Lares declined again when Fischler met him at a restaurant in Pinellas Park for lunch, and once more when she tried in May. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So clearly they wanted these properties a great deal. They envisioned apartment buildings with ground-floor stores, winding paths with views of the Intracoastal Waterway and a concert venue that would draw visitors from across the region. Nearly all of the roughly two dozen people listed as operating the companies are Scientologists. GARCIA-NAVARRO: What is the view of the local community? By then, the churchs intelligence unit was already deploying an elaborate scheme to establish area control in the city. 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. Scientology spokesman Ben Shaw said in a statement that the church is not involved with the acquisitions. Fischler offered Bosi $1.4 million, almost three times what the property was valued. Everyone in KnowBe4 knows I'm a (proud) Scientologist. Although Zano is not well known in Clearwater, the companies spent $16.7 million acquiring 26 commercial properties downtown. Hayes, the attorney and parishioner involved in the rest of the North Marina purchases, was added as manager on the companies filings. 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. 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.. The city received an informal inquiry last year related to vacant land at the southeast corner of Seminole Street and North Fort Harrison Avenue. Many of their properties weren't listed for sale. 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