Paid in cash. 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. And it's all surrounding the city's downtown waterfront. They came in under a fake name to buy the Fort Harrison Hotel, a historic hotel right in the center of downtown. In January and February 2017, a handful of limited liability companies bought six prime downtown parcels. Trending; . by. DeSantis vetoed a $1M Day of Service program that was worth so much more | Column, DeSantis calls for open market to compete with Advanced Placement, Supreme Court weighs Biden student loan plan worth billions, Maple Leafs: Lightning, other division rivals did not spur deal, The youngest Grand Prix of St. Petersburg driver? Florida Hotels and Places to Stay. I mean, do they view it as helpful for the community at large to have a major religious organization centered in their town or not? Four high-ranking defectors describe bizarre behavior and physical beatings inflicted by Scientology leader David Miscavige. Why does this matter? Thats a factor we do not control, Delk said. Minkoff had his medical license suspended for a year after it . [quote] Florida Gov. 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 2016. This one is owned by a parishioner who had been featured on the churchs Meet a Scientologist video series. Both are supposed to open soon. 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) So we kept our eye on the downtown purchases. Then in 2017, companies controlled by parishioners began buying retail property at an unprecedented rate. The Church of Scientology has firmly made Clearwater, Floridaits home in the blink of an eye - shelling out $103million to sweep up 101 acres of the city's waterfront downtown area over the course of three years. The stick out moment, is Tom Cruise auditing Marc, and failing., The live Q & A had great questions and answers. Businesses might see this city project and say, yeah, let me take a chance on downtown and open up a business. He has not been arrested by the FBI; fined $10 million by the FTC for running a roach motel; is not facing criminal rape charges; is not dealing with class action lawsuits; and is not awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to felony insurance fraud. He told Fischler that before Scientology bought the Fort Harrison Hotel in 1975 he worked there as a busboy. 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 positive and negative effects of coca cola. The logical conclusion is Scientology must have some sort of a game plan in mind, but theyre not public with what it is, City Council member Hoyt Hamilton said as he looked at a map of downtowns new ownership. Trump congratulates Justin Trudeau on winning a second term Three soldiers died when their tank fell off a bridge into a Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, TN residents say Jack Daniel's distillery spews black mold, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' After FBI raids uncovered the infiltrations, city officials launched their own investigations. The only record of redevelopment that has occurred among the 45 properties is a roof replacement on a vacant building on North Fort Harrison Avenue and internal demolition in a former flooring center two blocks north, according to notices in Pinellas County records. Did you check your W-2? 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,'Tom De Vocht, a former Scientology executive who oversaw the churchs property in Clearwater from 1996 to 2001, said. The Church takes seriously its responsibility and interest in the future of the area. More reaction: What Clearwaters City Council thinks about Scientologys downtown takeover, The full history: Scientologys 40 years of conflict with the City of Clearwater, recapped, Slideshow: See every building owned by the church, Scientologys 40 years of conflict with Clearwater, recapped, See a slideshow of all the churchs buildings. Church of Scientology campus in Clearwater, Fla. mokee81/iStock The Church of Scientology, its members and companies controlled by its members have spent $103 million over the past three. Nearly two years after the properties were sold to a company run by two Scientologists, no redevelopment plans have been submitted. The church requires followers to shun family members, friends and business contacts who defy it. The more its isolated and doesnt have people who are non-Scientologists around the area, the better.. 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. GARCIA-NAVARRO: What is the view of the local community? The Imagine Clearwater project aims to transform the city-owned waterfront into a vibrant park with gardens, a concert green, a walkway with views of the Intracoastal Waterway and mixed-use projects. The churchs influence comes from its massive wealth, estimated around $3billion in cash and assets, collected from devoted followers. That point is brought home in an editorial ('One Community, Many Good People' ) in the new edition of our Freedom Magazine. City officials say their dedication to redeveloping the waterfront hasnt changed. L Ron Hubbard From HCOPL URGENT ORG PROGRAMMING, "We own a tremendous amount of property. Clarion Inn & Suites Central Clearwater Beach. or "selling postcards" or borrowing money. Seventy-one percent of the 60 parcels the Church of Scientology owns under its name in Pinellas County are tax-exempt for religious purposes. Anonymous "members" have stated it was a great success with at least 3 Scientology members being arrested for assault, when the scientologists grabbed and attempted to remove protesters' masks. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Typically, when people buy commercial real estate, they move forward with construction or redevelopment. It's Clearwater, FL. The Travolta home. Ive been waiting for this neighborhood to clean up for 30 years, and I still think its around the corner, Rice said. Scientology leader David Miscavige told city officials the properties were part of the churchs proposed retail redevelopment plan. This Gulfport 14-year-old, The death of Dilbert and the art vs. the artist | Letters. How Boris Johnson's Partygate tormentor Sue Gray is now enmeshed in her own row - as it is DAN HODGES: This grubby Sue Gray recruitment annihilates all pretence that Sir Keir Starmer is a man of 'He was a natural leader': Mourners gather for the funeral of Thai cave survivor who died aged 17 after 'You'll be missed forever': Elizabeth Hurley and son Damian share heartfelt tribute to her late ex Shane Mamma Mia! 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. Richard Tobias, an independent real estate appraiser in Pinellas County, said vast purchases of downtown real estate by entities tied to Scientology have cast confusion over the market. Lares and his wife, Emily, sold the diner inside a decade ago. Fuster and Ozsan go back a long way to Altea Real Property Ltd. in London. Construction on eight townhomes on the south end of the marina began Oct. 1, according to county records. Huestler said broker Terri Novitsky calls him every now and again to see if hed be interested in selling. The reason lies in rising tensions between the church and the Clearwater City Council. Another Scientologist, Rick Argall, owned a building on downtowns Garden Avenue that housed six Scientologist-run businesses, including a chiropractic clinic he operated with a fellow church member. 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. Even city leaders said they didnt know the full extent of the purchases until they were shown maps created by the Times. Charles 'will NEVER build real relationship with Archie and Lili unless Harry and Meghan get new royal 'Putin has STOLEN our Ukrainian children': Distraught parents tell how THOUSANDS of youngsters never EMILY PRESCOTT: Sarah Ferguson 'confused' after seeing photos from goddaughter's wedding she thought she was Joe Biden is 'unlikely' to attend King Charles' coronation due to Ireland trip - despite promising to A 14-year-old autistic boy's naive prank. 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. She said, Well, well have to invite you down for dinner, he recalled. Church officials used a straw corporation to buy the historic Fort Harrison Hotel and moved in under a fake name. They come from all walks of life, professions and ethnic groups. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. If people all over the world would do this, it would change the earth." Discover a selection of more than 10,000 vacation rentals near Church of Scientology, Clearwater that are perfect for your trip. Police were quick to respond. Visitors walk through downtown on a Friday. 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. 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 1.4 acre lot was across the street from City Hall and adjacent to a 13-story Scientology religious retreat. Leading up to the waterfront, 22 of the first 33 buildings now have ties to Scientology. We believe it's important to shed light on a powerful institution that's very controversial and plays a big role in our community. walmart stabbing victim; google financial analyst salary london. The Church told DailyMail.com: 'The Times article is simply the latest in its continuing and unending obsession with Scientology and is little more than self-serving propaganda intended to give the appearance of objective reporting without reporting the actual facts to the reader.'. In late 2020, Terri Novitsky also was elected to the Downtown Development Board, an advisory group tasked with promoting downtown. MCMANUS: Scientology arrived in downtown Clearwater in 1975. MCMANUS: Right - because the city officials have said that there's only so many factors they control. 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. Can you give me a sense of the scale and how they have made this happen with the relatively little fanfare over the years? russia and china vs nato war who would win. 21 day forecast key west, florida. Hillsborough forms had errors, Church of Scientologys presence in Pinellas County, 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, Typhoon cancels Clearwaters sister city visit to Nagano. 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. Source: Lived in Florida for 15 . The church bought the 220-room hotel secretly in 1975, and since then, it has witnessed a number of unusual deaths. MCMANUS: Yeah, I think that the key here is the uncertainty. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So clearly they wanted these properties a great deal. But after he forwarded an email critical of the organization in 2012 to another parishioner, the church began an excommunication process that would have forced his partner of 24 years to stop working with him and his tenants to move out. When will the Beast from the East be at YOUR door? Instead, the aquarium sold it to the city in April 2017 for a lot less $4.25 million. Thomas Paine, Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. - Martin Luther King, The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. - Martin Luther King. In just three years, starting with a frantic land grab in January 2017, Scientology doubled its footprint in the city. The gallery does not include properties bought by companies run by church members. They didnt say what they were going to do with them, and I never asked, said Chesney, who works as the citys marine and aviation department director. 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. The church promised to spend $55 million. 'Theyve got one intention, and one intention only. 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. After the Times reported the purchases, Miscavige acknowledged the properties were bought for a second revitalization strategy one devised by the church. Not so shipshape! Audited NOTs (NOT stands for NED [New Era Dianetics] Operating Thetan) During spiritual counseling, parishioners are interrogated about their deepest secrets, which are recorded in folders and stored indefinitely.

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