GARCIA-NAVARRO: So tell me about these land purchases. A few months after Yarbrough relocated, a new electrical company moved into his old building. The 1.4 acre lot was across the street from City Hall and adjacent to a 13-story Scientology religious retreat. Dozens of residents showed up to speak. Seventy-one percent of the 60 parcels the Church of Scientology owns under its name in Pinellas County are tax-exempt for religious purposes. Even city leaders said they didnt know the full extent of the purchases until they were shown maps created by the Times. But Scientologist-controlled companies are also sitting on at least 26 vacant lots and 31 empty storefronts and offices. Aaron Smith-Levin, a former Sea Org member, said a church ethics officer in 1993 pressured Smith-Levins father-in-law to sell Scientology a downtown property it wanted for expansion. Over half are owned or operated by Scientologists. From $150.62 per night. And he was going to build an entertainment complex with Tom Cruise. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Ukraine soldiers shoot down enemy drones with drones of their own, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA. Four high-ranking defectors describe bizarre behavior and physical beatings inflicted by Scientology leader David Miscavige. The Church of Scientology doubled its footprint in Clearwater, Florida in just three years after shelling out $103million The Church first landed in Clearwater in 1975 with one hotel. In six cases, buyers made four times the propertys value deemed by the county property appraiser. 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. You are a fundamentalist Scientologist, or youre not one at all.. Construction on eight townhomes on the south end of the marina began Oct. 1, according to county records. I think it throws a stake in it when one party owns 50 percent or so. In addition to a park and amphitheater, Imagine Clearwater also calls for several new projects on the waterfront with residences and retail. Chef Karl has held positions at the Bermuda Carlton Beach Hotel, and Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans. Then in 2017, companies controlled by parishioners began buying retail property at an unprecedented rate. Main Menu We don't know what they're planning to do with the properties. 9,523 Scientologists live in the Tampa Bay area. His partner is Scientologist Maria Dolores Gregori Fuster. GARCIA-NAVARRO: That's Tracey McManus, who reports on Scientology for the Tampa Bay Times, talking about the church's increased real estate footprint in Clearwater, Fla. Asked directly whether Scientology orchestrated or paid for any of the sales, the church did not answer. Some landlords tied to Scientology have helped bring life to portions of downtown. 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. And it's all surrounding the city's downtown waterfront. Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? Scientology leader David Miscavige had his own redevelopment plan. Andrus involvement in Scientology goes back decades and includes his participation in a plan during the 1970s to stop a church member who had spied on the federal government from turning himself in to the FBI. High-ranking defectors provide an unprecedented inside look at Scientology, its leader and the Lisa McPherson case. MCMANUS: Yeah, I think that the key here is the uncertainty. Revealed: The top 10 fastest-growing destinations for UK pensioners retiring overseas. Then walk down Cleveland Street downtowns main artery. 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. The Church takes seriously its responsibility and interest in the future of the area. In the 70s, Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in a Scientology plan to infiltrate the government. It set aside $10 million for secret real estate purchases in Clearwater. The project broke ground in August and is aimed at helping bring businesses and foot traffic to the empty storefronts in the surrounding blocks. In late 2020, Terri Novitsky also was elected to the Downtown Development Board, an advisory group tasked with promoting downtown. I think it's comparable to say it's kind of, like, if there were to be a Vatican reporter in Vatican City. hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater. They have control over what businesses, if any, come in. Investigative journalism like this is the most expensive work that we do. The Times used the date that transactions were recorded in Clerk of Courts official record as the date of sale. He is not listed on the corporate filings for any of the eight limited liability companies that recently bought the North Marina properties. Whether you're traveling with friends, family, or even pets, Vrbo vacation homes have the best amenities for hanging out with the people that matter most, including swimming pools and air conditioning. Zano did not respond to questions about what his plans for the properties. In just three years, starting with a frantic land grab in January 2017, Scientology doubled its footprint in the city. A lot of them are vacant lots, vacant buildings, empty storefronts. What a difference in Mike from then and now., The Q&A session began at 2PM. We don't know if they're just going to continue to squat on them - because they haven't done anything yet. [ The full history: Scientologys 40 years of conflict with the City of Clearwater, recapped ]. 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. It met his criteria: It was located in a warm climate near an international airport and had a hotel the Sea Org could turn into a base. The church acquired three others in a land swap. 'Theyve got one intention, and one intention only. 20, 2019. We believe it's important to shed light on a powerful institution that's very controversial and plays a big role in our community. About 72 percent of those properties are tax exempt for religious uses. Audited NOTs (NOT stands for NED [New Era Dianetics] Operating Thetan) Did you check your W-2? The plan. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard had written about doing away with governments and replacing them with a Scientology-run society. For the first time, a majority of the boards members will be Scientologists. Defectors have said they were paid less than $50 a week. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. 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. Instead, the aquarium sold it to the city in April 2017 for a lot less $4.25 million. Flag is run by the churchs full-time workforce, the Sea Org, whose members sign billion-year contracts and work around the clock. In interviews, sellers said most of the transactions unfolded the same way. Why does this matter? The Church's celebrity members Tom Cruise and John Travolta are known to have estates in Clearwater not far from the Scientology headquarters. The other side of that is flag is run by the Sea Org, the Scientology's full-time workforce. After the Times reported the purchases, Miscavige acknowledged the properties were bought for a second revitalization strategy one devised by the church. Former parishioners say the church has a history of interfering in Scientologists downtown business. But David Kerr, a local real estate agent and parishioner, walked in one day with an offer. 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. 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. '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. MCMANUS: Scientology arrived in downtown Clearwater in 1975. In 2002, she was listed as an international deputy of a committee tasked with disseminating Scientology doctrine. Concerned he wouldnt be able to pay his mortgage, Argall said he deeded the building, appraised at $780,000, back to the previous owner. Show more. Andrus helped carry out a plan to stop a Scientologist who had spied on the federal government from turning himself in to the FBI. ), 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. Clearwater, FL is the town literally owned by Scientologists, so checks out Reply . . 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 churchs influence comes from its massive wealth, estimated around $3billion in cash and assets, collected from devoted followers. Jim is a nationally known artist. 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. GARCIA-NAVARRO: And we reached out to the Church of Scientology about the Tampa Bay Times report. #1 of 10 resorts in Clearwater. in positive and negative effects of coca cola. It was a very turbulent time. The lack of action from Scientology-tied buyers has precedent. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler, a Scientologist, called and showed up to the shop a handful of times in mid-2018. Suspicion swirled. Ever since then the church stopped communicating with the city, and the rapid land grab commenced. Flag is supposed to be an insulated oasis. The city wants to turn downtown into a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. It teaches that expanding Scientology is key to saving the world, then wields a system of totalitarian policies to keep parishioners in line. 1991: An investment firm owned by Joel Feshbach, an acknowledged Scientologist, purchased Cocolat, a West Coast candy company that was having some financial . Im concerned, Mayor Frank Hibbard said. Tyler Rice has run Carillon Flooring Center on North Fort Harrison for 30 years, the business his father started there in 1964. He owns Stonebridge Real Estate and served as president of the Florida Gulfcoast Commercial Association of Realtors in 2017. Hes still holding out. 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. (Everything owned by parishioner-run companies is still on the tax rolls. 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. The church also targeted the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Justice and scores of foreign governments. Clarion Inn & Suites Central Clearwater Beach has an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, a restaurant and bar 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. And our analysis found that these church officials were offering two, three, four times what the property appraiser said the properties were valued. When the council voted to buy the property, the chamber erupted in applause. On Sept. 7, Epsteins employee was removed from the corporate filings of the company that own the land. The land grab started as tensions grew between the church and the Clearwater City Council. Save. 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. Toni Says: What is Medicares creditable prescription drug coverage? Many of their properties weren't listed for sale. What Clearwaters City Council thinks, Scientologys 40 years of conflict with Clearwater, recapped, See a slideshow of all the churchs buildings. In summer 2018, Fischler walked into Bob Lees Auto Repair on Park Street to make owner Dennis Bosi an offer. 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. You are told not to discuss politics or religion and one of the first things out of the CEO's mouth is that he is a Scientologist. Dalai Lama. Some have donated millions to the church. BBC's 1million star Zoe Ball, 52, lands big new payday for Abba show on ITV. 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. hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater. 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. City officials say their dedication to redeveloping the waterfront hasnt changed. and last updated 7:53 PM, Oct 21, 2019. Agami also signed two more leases on the same block with restaurants owned by people not connected to the church. CONNIE HUMBURG, TRACEY McMANUS, ELI MURRAY, ELI ZHANG | Times. Source: Lived in Florida for 15 . That point is brought home in an editorial ('One Community, Many Good People' ) in the new edition of our Freedom Magazine. They have completed courses and spiritual counseling that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. He had committed to downtown in 1997. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
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