companies owned by scientologists in clearwater

He shows up in Clearwater from Arizona a few months ago. LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST: 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. 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. February 27, 2023 endeavor air pilot contract No Comments . Fischler offered Bosi $1.4 million, almost three times what the property was valued. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So clearly they wanted these properties a great deal. The city wants to turn downtown into a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. This purchase was part of Project Normandy, a covert Scientology program to take over Clearwater. Miscaviges offer to revitalize downtown hinged on the city ending its attempt to buy one vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. They spent $6.5 million to renovate the public Seminole Boat Ramp, a popular centerpiece seen as a sign of the citys commitment. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has bought 60 . They now own most commercial property on every block within walking distance of the waterfront. She reported full-time for six months, interviewing more than 90 people and reviewing more than 1,000 documents, to bring you this story. Theres no such thing in Scientology. 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 . And yes, everyone that works here is asked to keep politics and religion out . 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. I saw a business opportunity, he said. And our analysis found that these church officials were offering two, three, four times what the property appraiser said the properties were valued. After leaving Caliber Wells, Rodney Riley began working with Megan and Stephen Epstein. There's parishioners that come here from all over the world to take courses in high level auditing that's not offered anywhere else. Church of Scientology website It is with great pride we welcome you to the Church of Scientology of Melbourne. This is the Church of Hyper-Surveillance that knows everything about the private and business lives of its members; their social media activities; and even what they did in their past lives. All five City Council members said they doubted the rash of purchases were unrelated. Internal church documents detailed missions that planted spies in the state attorneys office, the Chamber of Commerce and the Clearwater Sun newspaper. A for-lease sign sits in long-vacant retail space at The SkyView condo tower, owned by Scientologist and developer Moises Agami. About $15.9 million was paid in cash. His wife, parishioner and real estate agent, Terri Novitsky, represented the buyer in many of the deals, according to interviews with sellers. Over the past two years, the properties surrounding the shop have been sold to Scientologist-controlled companies. CLEARWATER An old jewelry store on the corner of Cleveland Street that welcomes visitors to the core of downtown sits empty, unchanged since a company managed by a Church of Scientology. In recent puff piece media coverage in Clearwater, we are told that Riley: is in the process of buying 15 tracts in the Clearwater Marina area to develop what he is calling the Clearwater Marina District a connected walkable community with modern offices, retail, luxury condos and a boutique hotel, as well as affordable housing. It was owned by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. CONNIE HUMBURG, TRACEY McMANUS, ELI MURRAY, ELI ZHANG | Times. 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. David Gentile is creative with money and had hundreds of bank accounts and sub-funds when he ran GPB Capital. Made an offer. In North America, Melitta is the leading brand of coffee filters. Aaron Smith-Levin, who left the world of Scientology after 29 years, is running to serve on the council in Clearwaterwhich has been home to the church's international spiritual headquarters. At least eight businesses that got new landlords tied to Scientology moved out and have not been replaced. They posted guards wielding billy clubs and mace. Indeed, Scientology used the name The United Churches of Florida to purchase the Fort Harrison in 1975 for $3 million in cash. Mayor Jane Castors partner vowed not to lobby the city. Both are supposed to open soon. Howd that go? Because the city rebuffed Miscaviges offer, Bunker, who has advocated against alleged abuses in Scientology for 20 years, said he sees the parishioner-involved real estate purchases that followed as a vindictive and desperate play to interfere with Clearwaters revitalization efforts. He publicly asked why there were security cards with billy clubs and mace on the roof. MCMANUS: Right - because the city officials have said that there's only so many factors they control. Among them was to make Clearwater known as the first Scientology city in the world.. Scientologys international spiritual headquarters is anchored by the Flag Building, on left. But after a dispute with the city, Miscavige cut communication. The analysis did not include residential parcels except in cases where they were bought in conjunction with commercial property or vacant land. (CBRE) in April 2016. Ive been waiting for this neighborhood to clean up for 30 years, and I still think its around the corner, Rice said. And Scientology has an interest in keeping that insulated according to former executives that we've interviewed. Since July 2019, eight limited liability companies managed or operated by members of the church have bought 45 properties in North Marina, including Chesneys. During that period, downtown purchases by limited liability companies managed by members of Scientology accelerated. businesses owned by scientologistsdoes keegan allen have a child 26th February 2023 / in west warwick viewpoint / by / in west warwick viewpoint / by In the world of scientologywhere anything goes and all laws in the wog world by damnedits Christmas 24/7. But Scientologist-controlled companies are also sitting on at least 26 vacant lots and 31 empty storefronts and offices. The goal was to capture the area immediately surrounding both Scientologys headquarters, City Hall and the city-owned waterfront. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler brokered at least 10 downtown sales on behalf of seven buyers. 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. The Times also contacted representatives of all 32 companies it identified that bought downtown real estate over the past three years. They have completed courses and spiritual counseling that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Both have been there for decades. The church has amassed 60 properties in Pinellas County since arriving in 1975. In a letter to the Times, the church denied it ever tried to take control of the city. Some landlords tied to Scientology have helped bring life to portions of downtown. I dont know what their plan is.. All rights reserved. The Florida Secretary of State records show the firm went dormant in 2012. And half the sales were for more than double what the properties were valued by the county property appraiser, the Times found. 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 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. Andrus did not respond to a phone message or email inquiring if he was involved in the 45 purchases in the blocks surrounding his condo project. She estimated that around a quarter of the . Real estate agent David Kerr represented a buyer that paid more than three times what a property was valued by the county property appraiser. The 2017-2019 Downtown Clearwater land purchases made by Scientologists totaled $103 million. The Church was unaware of the land purchases? Our opinion is that Riley was instructed to get ahead of the story by bringing up Scientology before he was asked about it. Project Normandy was described in one of hundreds of internal memos Scientology officials exchanged about their plans to infiltrate and control Clearwater. But even when the church isnt in control, its presence can deter development. The church attracts members through a theology of self improvement and understanding. The family of Moises Agami, a developer whose companies bought 20 storefronts and a parking lot last year, has donated at least $10 million. Hayes, the attorney and parishioner involved in the rest of the North Marina purchases, was added as manager on the companies filings. It has terrorized defectors with private investigators, smear campaigns and relentless litigation. Over the next four decades, the church gradually amassed 58 properties in Clearwater under its name, 49 of them downtown. Rice said hes been surprised that he has not been approached by brokers trying to buy his 10,000-square-foot building. Both the Church of Scientology and GPB Capital denied it. 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. The Church of Scientology acquired the building in 2017 as part of its downtown redevelopment plan. ANTIFRAGILE LIMITED The church, its members and companies they control now own 185 properties that cover 101 acres in the center of downtown. 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) 2. Its members bought property on surrounding blocks. Copyright 2023 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. We also hold the distinction of being the first Scientology Church in the Southern Hemisphere. And the Times found that in six cases buyers paid quadruple a propertys value. The campus collects millions each week through fundraising and payments for expensive courses and high-level religious counseling not offered anywhere else. Scientologists living in Clearwater span the gamut of professional life . They now own most commercial property. 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. In those cases, four or more parcels purchased together clearly comprised a single piece of real estate. That works here is asked to keep politics and religion out headquarters, city Hall and companies owned by scientologists in clearwater. And I still think its around the corner, Rice said hes been surprised that he has been... A for-lease sign sits in long-vacant retail space at the SkyView condo tower owned. Also bidding ZHANG | Times Scientology before he was asked about it, Hall... And 31 empty storefronts and offices that got new landlords tied to Scientology helped. State records show the firm went dormant in 2012 Project Normandy was described one. 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