Scientology leader David Miscavige had his own redevelopment plan. Its members bought property on surrounding blocks. Our opinion is that Riley was instructed to get ahead of the story by bringing up Scientology before he was asked about it. None of the other parishioners whose companies bought property since 2017 responded to questions about their plans. Accuracy and availability may vary. DEUTERIUM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED The other side of that is flag is run by the Sea Org, the Scientology's full-time workforce. However, we reserve our prior opinion and modify it by stating that some GPB Capital money may be in the Clearwater real estate purchases mix. Over the past two years, the properties surrounding the shop have been sold to Scientologist-controlled companies. It has to be somebody with the money to invest in a real estate development deal. But the promised downtown revival never came. In her bombshell 2019 news story Clear Takeover, Tracey McManus revealed that $103 million in Downtown Clearwater land purchases were made by a series of LLC's owned by Scientologists. Paid in cash. Cons. Much of downtown Clearwater is now owned by people or companies tied to Scientology, a report finds. The Florida Secretary of States record on Rod Rileys RST Capital Advisors LLC: Categories: Clearwater, Osman Ozsan, Trish Duggan, Tagged as: CA South Development, Clearwater Marina District, David Gentile, DEUTERIUM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, DEUTERIUM INVESTMENT ADVISORS LIMITED, Gary Soter, Gregori And Company LLC, Maria Dolores Gregori Fuster, Megan Epstein, Osman Ozsan, Ozsan, RSR Capital Advisors LLC, Stephen Epstein, Tampa Bay Times, Tracey McManus, Trish Duggan, Re: The companies paid a combined $11.8 million in cash for 28 undeveloped parcels, five empty commercial buildings and a dozen homes, When I read that, I couldnt help but be reminded of the English Christmas carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas (On the third day of Christmas/ That's the findings of a story in the Tampa Bay Times that's headlined clear takeover. Seven businesses have left following recent purchases, and at least three more are leaving this year, including Clearwater Plumbing and Gulf Coast Marine. MCMANUS: You know, Lulu, from my reporting, I've learned that there's a lot of mistrust and suspicion still in the community when it comes to Scientology because a lot of the residents here were living in the city when Scientology arrived in the '70s, and they remember the tactics Scientology used. And yes, everyone that works here is asked to keep politics and religion out . A few months later, the newcomers admitted they were actually Scientology. Fifty-eight are in the city of Clearwater and 49 are downtown. 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. According to court records, Andrus accompanied two guards as they handcuffed and gagged the man, dragged him into a car and drove him to a hideout, where he was held for a month before escaping. . That has led defectors from the church and city leaders to believe there is little chance parishioners are making significant real estate deals around Scientologys mecca without the churchs involvement. An elevated walkway connects the building to the Fort Harrison Hotel, the churchs first purchase in the city in 1975. Religious Technology Center (RTC) is the primary manager of Scientology intellectual property. 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. And the mayor at the time, Gabe Cazares, really raised the alarm. Almost immediately, a decades-long trickle of purchases by church members turned into a flood. In response, the Tampa Bay Times received a letter signed by Scientology attorney Gary Soter that read: There is nothing unnatural about Scientologists wanting to live in the same city that houses the international spiritual headquarters of their church. Both are supposed to open soon. Melitta electrics and accessories are manufactured, marketed and distributed under a licensing agreement. Project Normandy was described in one of hundreds of internal memos Scientology officials exchanged about their plans to infiltrate and control Clearwater. After the Times reported the purchases, Miscavige met with city officials and acknowledged the church acquired them as part of his plan to spend $55 million renovating downtown buildings and recruiting high-end retail to empty store fronts. After his stint at CBRE, Riley worked for Caliber Wells in Scottsdale, Arizona and then left the firm. 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. Theres no such thing in Scientology. Originally founded in 1955, we are the oldest Scientology Church in Australia. The pattern of Scientology-tied companies buying so many properties and sitting on them flies in the face of most land economics, said Tobias, who has been appraising property in Pinellas County for 50 years. In summer 2018, Fischler walked into Bob Lees Auto Repair on Park Street to make owner Dennis Bosi an offer. The church attracts members through a theology of self improvement and understanding. ARKWRIGHT ROAD LIMITED In the world of poker this is called a tell. 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. No one from the church dictates to me what to buy, what to sell, what to do.. He told Fischler that before Scientology bought the Fort Harrison Hotel in 1975 he worked there as a busboy. However, this tactic can backfire when it comes across as answering a question no one has asked. And our analysis found that these church officials were offering two, three, four times what the property appraiser said the properties were valued. February 27, 2023 endeavor air pilot contract No Comments . Andrus helped carry out a plan to stop a Scientologist who had spied on the federal government from turning himself in to the FBI. TRACEY MCMANUS: Hi, Lulu. In 2017 the church acquired six downtown Clearwater retail properties through limited liability companies. Based upon on our new hypothesis that Trish Duggan may be the financier of the land purchases, the logic of bringing in non-Scientologist Rod Riley to act as the frontman makes sense as it can serve to counter any accusation that Scientology is taking over Clearwater. Companies tied to the Church of Scientology paid millions in cash for 45 properties near downtown with no major plans in sight. Over half are owned or operated by Scientologists. Sponsored by HomeIPO.org Is it possible to get money (maybe $50k) without a loan? The greatest number of properties were bought by companies controlled by either Israeli businessman Itzhak Zano or another Scientologist who represents him. Riley is also working with Gensler on the development. The 2017-2019 Downtown Clearwater land purchases made by Scientologists totaled $103 million. Scientologys extraordinary influence over its members has been documented in government investigations and testimony from former parishioners throughout its 65-year history. Steven Epstein took the unusual step of preparing an affidavit to tell the Tampa Bay Times that his client was not the Church of Scientology. 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. Many of the properties werent on the market. GARCIA-NAVARRO: And we reached out to the Church of Scientology about the Tampa Bay Times report. Construction on eight townhomes on the south end of the marina began Oct. 1, according to county records. These are the companies and names on this list (put into alphabetical order, I also added what are probably the largest scientology owned businesses in the area KnowB4, NTC, Consumer Sales Solutions and Energy Professionals: Axiom Bahia Property Management (Raul Aleman) Blue Streak Docs (Sam Gendusa) Buzzazz Business Solutions (Keanan Kintzel) Then the council interfered with a land deal that Scientology demanded for its plan. 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. While theres no law against hanging onto property, developers typically buy land, build on it and sell it for profit. 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. Among them was to make Clearwater known as the first Scientology city in the world.. He took over Bob Lees Auto to continue the business legacy and served on the Downtown Development Board for a decade. GARCIA-NAVARRO: What do you mean billion year contracts? His wife, parishioner and real estate agent, Terri Novitsky, represented the buyer in many of the deals, according to interviews with sellers. It was a very turbulent time. 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. MCMANUS: Yeah, I think that the key here is the uncertainty. 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. More interesting is that the 15 parcels of land Riley plans acquire in Clearwater are owned by Scientologists. And Scientology has an interest in keeping that insulated according to former executives that we've interviewed. Copyright 2019 NPR. (I'm in Clearwater). Once we dug into the data and pulled records, we found that LLCs tied to the Church of Scientology had bought about 100 properties. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Explain to me why the paper has a Scientology reporter. A broker who was a Scientologist approached a downtown property owner. But David Kerr, a local real estate agent and parishioner, walked in one day with an offer. City leaders spent tens of millions improving streets, subsidizing residential projects and hiring consultants. "You have some buyers here that their motivations are not really clear," he said, "so it's tough to make economic sense out . Rileys Clearwater Marina District development has a $350 million price tag on it. Nicole Lyn Pesce is News Editor, Trending at MarketWatch and is based in New York. To reiterate our earlier point, Ozsan, Gregori And Company LLC has only two client accounts. The Times report describes spaces such as a former jewelry store, an empty Walgreens and a deserted laundromat sitting empty and unused. Block after block, vacant lots sit untouched, and storefronts remain empty: A former jewelry store. They called it, quote, "little more than self-serving propaganda intended to give the appearance of objective reporting." Nearly all of the properties were bought through limited liability companies, which are required to disclose their operators but not their owners. Click here to read the story. One of these accounts shows discretionary assets of $134.77 million. The church has shed no light on its plans. A deserted coin laundry. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with reporter Tracey McManus. Please! Thats a factor we do not control, Delk said. Suspicion swirled. His job appears to be one of a PR guy who can appeal to Clearwater City Government. Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? 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. Although that arrangement is standard in real estate, it makes it impossible to know whether the properties are owned by the Scientologists who manage the companies, the wealthy church or another hidden party. Times reporters built a database of hundreds of properties in the center of Clearwaters downtown. I would assume hes a Scientologist or involved with them in some fashion. I saw a business opportunity, he said. Part of the reason for that is because they have this Sea Org that works full time and is paid less than $50 a week. Take away the church footprint, a few condo towers and all buildings owned by the government. In the world of scientologywhere anything goes and all laws in the wog world by damnedits Christmas 24/7. It set aside $10 million for secret real estate purchases in Clearwater. Pros. 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. EMPIRICAL PROSPECTING COMPANY LIMITED. You are a fundamentalist Scientologist, or youre not one at all.. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. 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. I had to make a decision, Bosi said. 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. It appears that Project Normandy is still operational. Since July 2019, eight limited liability companies managed or operatedby members of the church have bought 45 properties in North Marina, including Chesneys. 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. Church officials used a straw corporation to buy the historic Fort Harrison Hotel and moved in under a fake name. 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. But far more non-Scientologists are moving out. NIO stock swings lower after reporting losses that were much wider than expected, 3Ms stock surges after company says DOD data show 90% of earplug plaintiffs had normal hearing, Marc Benioffs Salesforce fairy tale is crumbling down around him. Times investigative reporters pored over 1,000 deeds and business records, and interviewed more than 90 people, to connect the dots from the church buying its first hotel in the area in 1975, to Scientologists and their businesses now owning 185 properties covering 101 acres in the heart of downtown Clearwater which is also Scientologys headquarters, and home to its flag campus, to which Scientologists across the globe make pilgrimages. Delk described the projects which require voter approval as key to the plans success. Defectors have said they were paid less than $50 a week. In those cases, four or more parcels purchased together clearly comprised a single piece of real estate. According to his resume, he started the firm in 2003. My sister is always struggling with money and drugs: I own a house with my husband and mother. Agami also signed two more leases on the same block with restaurants owned by people not connected to the church. We are an equal opportunity employer and fully EEOC compliant. A few weeks later, John Yarbrough sold the building where he had run his electrical services business for 22 years. 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. Recommend. She reported full-time for six months, interviewing more than 90 people and reviewing more than 1,000 documents, to bring you this story. It teaches that expanding Scientology is key to saving the world, then wields a system of totalitarian policies to keep parishioners in line. ), [ Slideshow: See every building owned by the church ], In the 90s, a Scientology magazine listed the churchs goals for 2000. Help us keep bringing stories like this to you. He called the Tampa Bay Times questions about parishioners activity not just stupid, false and offensive, but un-American., You talk out of both sides of your mouth: If redevelopment is being done by the city or a member of another religion, not Scientology, it is good; if redevelopment is being done by a Scientologist, it is bad, Shaw said. 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. I think it's comparable to say it's kind of, like, if there were to be a Vatican reporter in Vatican City. 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