companies owned by scientologists in clearwatercompanies owned by scientologists in clearwater

After the City Council voted to buy the lot in April 2017, Miscavige refused to talk to city officials for the next two and a half years. Most of the sales have not previously been reported. Holding and president of Graymoss, Inc. [27] The architectural firm HOK was hired to deliver the project. The Scientology leader had offered the Clearwater Marine Aquarium $15 million for that 1.4-acre grass lot on Pierce Street. Construction on eight townhomes on the south end of the marina began Oct. 1, according to county records. Most religions have a fundamentalist wing, Rinder said. My true love gave to me/Three French hens/Two turtle doves/And a partridge in a pear tree). Real estate agent Brian Andrus controls seven properties bought around the citys public boat ramp. 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. However, it hasnt always been clear to me as to just what does that actually mean.. 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. He publicly asked why there were security cards with billy clubs and mace on the roof. Take away the church footprint, a few condo towers and all buildings owned by the government. We will continue research on our new Trish Duggan theory. Since July 2019, eight limited liability companies managed or operatedby members of the church have bought 45 properties in North Marina, including Chesneys. Reporters analyzed thousands of rows of data and pulled more than 1,000 records from the Pinellas County Property Appraiser, the Pinellas County Clerk of Court and the Florida Division of Corporations. Thats a factor we do not control, Delk said. Gentile also purchased several Clearwater companies owned by Scientologists who may have invested the proceeds into land deals. Fifty-three of those are for properties owned by companies run by himself with fellow Scientologist Emrani, a candidate in this election. Fuster and Ozsan go back a long way to Altea Real Property Ltd. in London. The church requires followers to shun family members, friends and business contacts who defy it. It is a big faux pas in business PR to bring up the subject of religion when it is absolutely unnecessary to do so. He owns Stonebridge Real Estate and served as president of the Florida Gulfcoast Commercial Association of Realtors in 2017. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So tell me about these land purchases. At first, I just wanted to make a short video about the buildings and programs they are doing in clearwater. Over the past two years, the properties surrounding the shop have been sold to Scientologist-controlled companies. By then, he had found an auto garage he could buy in Dunedin. ANTIFRAGILE LIMITED The churchs hostility toward the public became clear from its first days in the city in fall 1975. Gensler does all the architectural work for Scientologys Ideal Orgs. Scientologys international spiritual headquarters is anchored by the Flag Building, on left. 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. He told Fischler that before Scientology bought the Fort Harrison Hotel in 1975 he worked there as a busboy. Fair Game: Leah Remini & Mike Rinders Podcast, The Aftermath Foundation: Help for Those Who Want to Leave the Sea Org, Scientologys Membership Contract Goes Down in Flames in Court, Chris Shelton's Sensibly Speaking Podcast, Dr. Steven Hassan's Freedom of Mind Resource Center, Stefani Hutchison's Confront & Shatter Blog, The Aftermath Foundation: Helping Those Who Have Left the Sea Org, More Scientologists Getting Into Crypto: Alfreddie Johnson and Karilyn Youngman-Trammell and Their Solar Gold Cryptocurrency, More Grant Cardone Fraud: His Plan for Businesses to Use Credit Cards to Pay for Cardone Sales Training and then Declare Bankruptcy, Church of Scientology International(158), Scientology Fair Game: Cult Leader David Miscavige Orders Attacks on Marc Headley and His Business, US Federal Prosecutor Now Investigating Retired LAPD Cop & Scientology Pal Captain Cory Palka for Corruption, Subpoena-Evader and Thug Life Scientology Leader David Miscavige Served a Subpoena by a US Federal Court on Valentines Day 2023, Scientologist David Gentile Goes Down in Flames in the Pretrial Phase of His US Federal Criminal Case. MCMANUS: Yeah, I think that the key here is the uncertainty. They have control over what businesses, if any, come in. Rodney Riley is the CEO of RSR Capital Advisors in Clearwater, Florida. City officials are trying to make the area a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. There's parishioners that come here from all over the world to take courses in high level auditing that's not offered anywhere else. Among them: make Clearwater known as the first Scientology city in the world.. The church has amassed 60 properties in Pinellas County since arriving in 1975. Brokers who are Scientologists approached at least 15 downtown owners about unlisted properties. The main reason why developers didnt want it was they didnt want to be near the Church of Scientology, Searcy said. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email along with 7129 other subscribers. They haven't submitted redevelopment plans. Made an offer. Another tell. If the council in 2020 isnt on board with doing something his way, hes going to do it himself.. He wanted the council to stop trying to buy a vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. About 72 percent of those properties are tax exempt for religious uses. He is not listed on the corporate filings for any of the eight limited liability companies that recently bought the North Marina properties. 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. Clearwater is the center of that revenue stream. When the council voted to buy the property, the chamber erupted in applause. She estimated that around a quarter of the . Scientologist normally dont deal with outsiders in my experience. They now own most commercial property on every block within walking distance of the waterfront. The analysis did not include residential parcels except in cases where they were bought in conjunction with commercial property or vacant land. pauline hanson dancing with the stars; just jerk dance members; what happens if a teacher gets a dui I had to make a decision, Bosi said. His attorney, Louis Zaretsky, wrote in a letter to the Times that Zano is a businessman with vast real estate holdings in Israel, Germany, Poland, New York and Florida who makes investments based on his belief that they will appreciate or otherwise contribute to his long-term goals.. 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. Church officials used a straw corporation to buy the historic Fort Harrison Hotel and moved in under a fake name. Amazing Place to Work. Both are supposed to open soon. There is no discrimination for or against *any* religion. He had committed to downtown in 1997. In 2018, Peter Lares got a call from Fischler, asking if hed sell the prominent building in the center of downtown that houses Emilys Restaurant. She said, Well, well have to invite you down for dinner, he recalled. ( 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 The more its isolated and doesnt have people who are non-Scientologists around the area, the better.. 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. Mike Rinder, who led the churchs intelligence arm before defecting in 2007, said that when it comes to property around Flag, theres no real distinction between whether its owned by the church or a parishioner. More interesting is that the 15 parcels of land Riley plans acquire in Clearwater are owned by Scientologists. Gulf Coast Marine and ClearwaterPlumbing. We believe it's important to shed light on a powerful institution that's very controversial and plays a big role in our community. However, this tactic can backfire when it comes across as answering a question no one has asked. Xenu Who? MCMANUS: Well, our reporting shows that Scientology has a big interest in preserving its downtown campus. Scientologys survival depends on the preservation of its headquarters in Clearwater. 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. Tal Ezra, a Scientologist who recently bought four parcels around an office where he has run his fuel management company since 2005, said hes considering office space and possibly a retail shop. Even city leaders said they didnt know the full extent of the purchases until they were shown maps created by the Times. A few months after Yarbrough relocated, a new electrical company moved into his old building. The Times also contacted representatives of all 32 companies it identified that bought downtown real estate over the past three years. #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. 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. But David Kerr, a local real estate agent and parishioner, walked in one day with an offer. 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. 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. 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. 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. A broker who was a Scientologist approached a downtown property owner. It set aside $10 million for secret real estate purchases in Clearwater. According to a new report by The Tampa Bay Times, the Church of Scientology and related entities now own over $260 million of property in downtown Clearwater. Do I spend another 10 years and see what happens in downtown Clearwater?, Scientology, Pinellas County and Clearwater Reporter. After his stint at CBRE, Riley worked for Caliber Wells in Scottsdale, Arizona and then left the firm. VIDEO: Finally, Scientific Proof that Scientologys Body Thetans Cannot Exist! Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? 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. Your characterization that his religious affiliations somehow control his business activities is evidence of personal bias against his religion, Zaretsky wrote. Terri Novitsky and Hayes did not return calls and emails requesting comment. While theres no law against hanging onto property, developers typically buy land, build on it and sell it for profit. That company has had no connection to Coldwell Banker for decades. Click here to read the story. On Sept. 7, Epsteins employee was removed from the corporate filings of the company that own the land. But far more non-Scientologists are moving out. (SOUNDBITE OF CHICK COREA'S "RETURN TO FOREVER"). 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. Our opinion is that Riley was instructed to get ahead of the story by bringing up Scientology before he was asked about it. businesses owned by scientologistsdoes keegan allen have a child 26th February 2023 / in west warwick viewpoint / by / in west warwick viewpoint / by Both have been there for decades. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard had written about doing away with governments and replacing them with a Scientology-run society. Howd that go? She reported full-time for six months, interviewing more than 90 people and reviewing more than 1,000 documents, to bring you this story. The 2017-2019 Downtown Clearwater land purchases made by Scientologists totaled $103 million. Some have donated millions to the church. I think it throws a stake in it when one party owns 50 percent or so. Welcome. Tracey McManus is a Scientology reporter for the paper, and she joins us now. In a letter to the Times, the church denied it ever tried to take control of the city. 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. According to his resume, he started the firm in 2003. 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. 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. Had no connection to Coldwell Banker for decades full-time for six months, interviewing more 90. Outsiders in my experience terri Novitsky and Hayes did not return calls and emails requesting comment it that! Of those are for properties owned by the government faux pas in business PR bring... Be near the church denied it ever tried to take courses in high level auditing that 's controversial... Written about doing away with governments and replacing them with a Scientology-run society about it area a regional destination food. 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Rodney Riley is the CEO of RSR Capital Advisors in Clearwater other subscribers few months Yarbrough...
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