Argall left the church and was forced to abandon his business of more than 20 years. New details about the case of Lisa McPherson, who died in the care of Scientologists, from the executive who directed the Church of Scientologys handling of the case. The main reason why developers didnt want it was they didnt want to be near the Church of Scientology, Searcy said. 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. Miscavige cut off communication with the city. It has terrorized defectors with private investigators, smear campaigns and relentless litigation. Church of Scientology website It is with great pride we welcome you to the Church of Scientology of Melbourne. 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. . Delk described the projects which require voter approval as key to the plans success. Fifty-eight are in the city of Clearwater and 49 are downtown. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has purchased 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name. What's more, the Times found a Scientology magazine from the 1990s that listed goals for the new millennium. 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. The church requires followers to shun family members, friends and business contacts who defy it. After that, the Times writes, Scientology began grabbing property at an unprecedented rate, adding that 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. In fact, 22 of the first 33 buildings on Cleveland Street, considered the downtown districts main artery, are tied to Scientology. Hes starting to assemble properties, Allbritton said. This makes no sense, except of course to a bigot.. But even when the church isnt in control, its presence can deter development. 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. Flag is supposed to be an insulated oasis. Purchases in the North Marina Area took off in July 2019, three months after the City Council voted to buy the historic North Ward Elementary School across the street from the Seminole ramp and Andrus condo. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has bought 60 . 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. If you are looking for a career where your coworkers and leadership care about you and your success, AMI is the right place! It also has to be someone who trusts the Epsteins enough to invest with them. 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. A broker who was a Scientologist approached a downtown property owner. Holding and president of Graymoss, Inc. [27] The architectural firm HOK was hired to deliver the project. Many of the properties werent on the market. Mike Rinder, who led Scientologys intelligence arm before defecting in 2007, said any property owned by a parishioner is in the churchs control. 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. The new owners also are sitting on about 30 undeveloped lots. [1] 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. MCMANUS: Yeah, I think that the key here is the uncertainty. They were very secretive, he said. #4 Best Company In Clearwater Company Description: Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Clearwater, Fla., Senior Home Care is a privately held company operating nearly 50 branch locations with 1,800 employees through its Senior Home Care offices in Florida and Synergy Home Care offices in Louisiana. If Epsteins client was not the Church of Scientology then who is his client? In San Diego, Taylor Guitars and Deering Banjo Company. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So clearly they wanted these properties a great deal. 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 Right now, at least 30 businesses owned by non-parishioners are renting from Scientologists. In summer 2017, Mark Searcy, a longtime Clearwater real estate agent who is not a Scientologist, assembled a 1-acre site by getting the owners of three adjoining properties to agree to sell. In 2016, city consultants began planning what has become a $64 million effort to reinvigorate the waterfront called Imagine Clearwater. The church offered $15 million for the parcel. The Church takes seriously its responsibility and interest in the future of the area. They have completed courses and spiritual counseling that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. 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. His job appears to be one of a PR guy who can appeal to Clearwater City Government. DEUTERIUM INVESTMENT ADVISORS LIMITED 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. 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. 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Here is a map showing the parcels in purple which Riley is acquiring: We have previously offered our opinion that the $102 million in Downtown Clearwater land purchases made by Scientologists came from GPB Capital Holdings. In late 2020, Terri Novitsky also was elected to the Downtown Development Board, an advisory group tasked with promoting downtown. 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. They keep their operations going. Miscaviges offer to revitalize downtown hinged on the city ending its attempt to buy one vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. At first, I just wanted to make a short video about the buildings and programs they are doing in clearwater. My true love gave to me/Three French hens/Two turtle doves/And a partridge in a pear tree). About 72 percent of those properties are tax exempt for religious uses. Flag is run by the churchs full-time workforce, the Sea Org, whose members sign billion-year contracts and work around the clock. You are a fundamentalist Scientologist, or youre not one at all.. You have some buyers here that their motivations are not really clear, he said, so its tough to make economic sense out of it.. And he was going to recruit high-end retail to some of the empty storefronts because downtown Clearwater's pretty depressed. Nearly all of the properties were bought through limited liability companies, which are required to disclose their operators but not their owners. To reiterate our earlier point, Ozsan, Gregori And Company LLC has only two client accounts. That company has had no connection to Coldwell Banker for decades. Most did not respond or declined to comment. The gallery does not include properties bought by companies run by church members. 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. Bosi wasnt interested. Advance! In interviews, sellers said most of the transactions unfolded the same way. Scientologists from across the globe make pilgrimages to the campus, called Flag. A sign in front of the business says, "Notice: This is one of the only spas in downtown Clearwater not owned by a Scientologist .". Welcome. She said, Well, well have to invite you down for dinner, he recalled. Defectors have said they were paid less than $50 a week. Although Zano is not well known in Clearwater, the companies spent $16.7 million acquiring 26 commercial properties downtown. 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 . Dozens of residents showed up to speak. Osman Ozsan is of interest to us because he is connected to Rod Riley, a non-Scientologist realtor and real estate developer from Arizona. Times reporters built a database of hundreds of properties in the center of Clearwaters downtown. Clearwater is the permanent home to more than 10,000 Scientology parishioners. When the city was considering buying the aquariums lot, Miscavige threatened to stop communicating until the 2020 election, when term limits would force most of the council out of office. Epstein declined to name his client but responded to questions from the Timeswith an affidavit declaring it was not the Church of Scientology. The Times report describes spaces such as a former jewelry store, an empty Walgreens and a deserted laundromat sitting empty and unused. Operatives framed the mayor in a staged hit-and-run and spread false rumors he was having an extramarital affair. He demanded to see their financials, their board of directors. Its like they are trying to control the whole thing.. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Zano did not respond to questions about what his plans for the properties. 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.It is owned and operated by the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, Inc., a subsidiary of the Church of Scientology International.. More reaction: What Clearwaters City Council thinks about Scientologys downtown takeover, The full history: Scientologys 40 years of conflict with the City of Clearwater, recapped, Slideshow: See every building owned by the church, Scientologys 40 years of conflict with Clearwater, recapped, See a slideshow of all the churchs buildings. 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