Hibbard previously served as Mayor from 2005 until 2012, leaving office because of term limits. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Who are they buying from, and how much were they offering? GARCIA-NAVARRO: So clearly they wanted these properties a great deal. (I'm in Clearwater). Rice said hes been surprised that he has not been approached by brokers trying to buy his 10,000-square-foot building. Inc. magazine's 2019 report on the 5,000 fastest-growing privately owned businesses in America cites 16 firms based in Clearwater. In the 70s, Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in a Scientology plan to infiltrate the government. Be informed that their owners are local Scientologists who support the abuses of Scientology leader David Miscavige. 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. Thats a factor we do not control, Delk said. and last updated 7:53 PM, Oct 21, 2019. 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. They doubled the churchs footprint in less than three years. We interpret it as the Tampa Bay Times getting too close for Mr. Epsteins comfort. Asked directly whether Scientology orchestrated or paid for any of the sales, the church did not answer. Bosi wasnt interested. 9,523 Scientologists live in the Tampa Bay area. The churchs campus grew slowly over decades. 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. 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. You have some buyers here that their motivations are not really clear, he said, so its tough to make economic sense out of it.. The goal was to capture the area immediately surrounding both Scientologys headquarters, City Hall and the city-owned waterfront. The church also targeted the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Justice and scores of foreign governments. Both have been there for decades. 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. A lot of them are vacant lots, vacant buildings, empty storefronts. GARCIA-NAVARRO: It's the type of servitude. Thank you very much. He took over Bob Lees Auto to continue the business legacy and served on the Downtown Development Board for a decade. My true love gave to me/Three French hens/Two turtle doves/And a partridge in a pear tree). Epstein declined to name his client but responded to questions from the Timeswith an affidavit declaring it was not the Church of Scientology. David Gentile is creative with money and had hundreds of bank accounts and sub-funds when he ran GPB Capital. But they werent ready to sell the building, which they had owned for 27 years. 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. Real estate agent David Kerr represented a buyer that paid more than three times what a property was valued by the county property appraiser. 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. And it's all surrounding the city's downtown waterfront. And he was going to recruit high-end retail to some of the empty storefronts because downtown Clearwater's pretty depressed. After buying eight buildings on and around Cleveland Street in 2018, Moises Agami, a parishioner and developer, now has restaurants, shops and other businesses in 16 of those 20 storefronts. Additional Clearwater real estate purchases began in 2019. The church offered $15 million for the parcel. Scientologists deal with useful non-Scientologists quite often. Businesses without ties to the church are moving into a few of those. Everyone in KnowBe4 knows I'm a (proud) Scientologist. 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. If Epsteins client was not the Church of Scientology then who is his client? Scientology came to downtown Clearwater in 1975. 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. TRACEY MCMANUS: Hi, Lulu. If you are looking for a career where your coworkers and leadership care about you and your success, AMI is the right place! Rileys Clearwater Marina District development has a $350 million price tag on it. MCMANUS: Yeah, I think that the key here is the uncertainty. Clarification made on CBRE and thank you for pointing that out. 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. Since 2017, the Church of Scientology and companies run by its members have bought 92 properties around the center of downtown. 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. Many of their properties weren't listed for sale. 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. 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.. There's parishioners that come here from all over the world to take courses in high level auditing that's not offered anywhere else. The Times also contacted representatives of all 32 companies it identified that bought downtown real estate over the past three years. Construction on eight townhomes on the south end of the marina began Oct. 1, according to county records. 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. Riley is also working with Gensler on the development. He owns Stonebridge Real Estate and served as president of the Florida Gulfcoast Commercial Association of Realtors in 2017. 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/ 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. But now these LLCs tied to Scientology control the retail district. VIDEO: Finally, Scientific Proof that Scientologys Body Thetans Cannot Exist! 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. 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. As a general rule, when someone makes an unsolicited statement, as Riley did by mentioning Mormons and Scientologists, it suggests to us hidden connections. 20, 2019. In 2017 the church acquired six downtown Clearwater retail properties through limited liability companies. 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. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has purchased 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name. The inn had stood empty since being damaged in a 1989 arson fire and the Church of Scientology acquired the land in 1991 after it had been purchased by local property developer Terence J. McCarthy, the owner of T.J.M. There is nothing unnatural about Scientologists wanting to live in the same city that houses the international spiritual headquarters of their church, said a letter signed by Scientology attorney Gary Soter. An elevated walkway connects the building to the Fort Harrison Hotel, the churchs first purchase in the city in 1975. And in 1977, the FBI raided Scientology's headquarters in LA and D.C. And they uncovered hundreds of thousands of memos and documents. It was a very turbulent time. After FBI raids uncovered the infiltrations, city officials launched their own investigations. We believe it's important to shed light on a powerful institution that's very controversial and plays a big role in our community. Im concerned, Mayor Frank Hibbard said. 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. Business Outlook. Melitta electrics and accessories are manufactured, marketed and distributed under a licensing agreement. The church has amassed 60 properties in Pinellas County since arriving in 1975. 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 saw the area improve when police cracked down on drugs and prostitution decades ago. 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. businesses owned by scientologistsdoes keegan allen have a child 26th February 2023 / in west warwick viewpoint / by / in west warwick viewpoint / by That's the findings of a story in the Tampa Bay Times that's headlined clear takeover. 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. How much of Clearwater is owned by Scientology? But Lee assumed the church was involved. 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. It bought a hotel and wrote plans to take control of the city. A Scientology Based Company in Clearwater tried to Hire me and lie to me (VIDEO) So I just moved down to the clearwater area and I'm new to knowing that this is the "mecca" for scientology programs. Once we dug into the data and pulled records, we found that LLCs tied to the Church of Scientology had bought about 100 properties. 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. Can you give me a sense of the scale and how they have made this happen with the relatively little fanfare over the years? The Church of Scientology and companies run by its members have spent $103 million since 2017 buying about 100 properties. Fischler approached Bosi again in September. When the council voted to buy the property, the chamber erupted in applause. 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. All they did was act like children and make crude sex/homophobic/racial jokes about being raped, gangbanged, etc. 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. 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. 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. 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