hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater

It was a very turbulent time. Times Staff WritersOct. Just how many is tough to fact-check due to the church's many tenuously connected affiliates . The Scientology leader had offered the Clearwater Marine Aquarium $15 million for that 1.4-acre grass lot on Pierce Street. the Church of Scientology and Clearwater is incapable of being an honest hard-working partner with the city of Clearwater in revitalizing this town it's not possible because it's against their fundamental best interests this is the reason all of the Scientologists in the in Clearwater were instructed by the Office of Special Affairs to . Ever since then the church stopped communicating with the city, and the rapid land grab commenced. Some landlords tied to Scientology have helped bring life to portions of downtown. Both are supposed to open soon. But in the 70s, Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in Scientologys government espionage scheme, which sent 11 Scientologists to federal prison. Seventy-three percent of the property is tax-exempt for religious purposes. The churchs influence comes from its massive wealth, estimated around $3billion in cash and assets, collected from devoted followers. One of the factors they do control is the waterfront land that's protected by city charter, that they are in the middle of a $64 million plan right now to redesign and develop into a park with gardens and a concert venue. 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. (Everything owned by parishioner-run companies is still on the tax rolls. They keep their operations going. George Orwell's astonishing novel 1984 depicts a dystopian world that has many remarkable similarities to scientology. Scientology spokesman Ben Shaw said in a statement that the church is not involved with the acquisitions. And the mayor at the time, Gabe Cazares, really raised the alarm. They include consumer products, a lighting manufacturer, development firms, fitness, advertising and marketing, environmental services and financial advisers. Most of the new owners have done little with their acquisitions. 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. I'm glad you brought this up! Many of the properties werent on the market. The church bought the 220-room hotel secretly in 1975, and since then, it has witnessed a number of unusual deaths. hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater. And inside those findings was a plan that Scientology operatives had created and written to establish area control. Block after block, vacant lots sit untouched, and storefronts remain empty: A former jewelry store. The church offered $15 million for the parcel. Not so shipshape! MCMANUS: Scientology arrived in downtown Clearwater in 1975. MCMANUS: Brokers representing these companies were approaching downtown property owners. Clearwater has been home to fellow Scientologists Tom Cruise, who lives in a downtown penthouse, and Kirstie Alley, who owns a multi-residence waterfront compound in the area. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. But the aquarium rejected his bid in order to sell it to the city for $4.25 million. But the promised downtown revival never came. Seventy-one percent of the 60 parcels the Church of Scientology owns under its name in Pinellas County are tax-exempt for religious purposes. The most notable one is that of Lisa McPherson. 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. The greatest number of properties were bought by companies controlled by either Israeli businessman Itzhak Zano or another Scientologist who represents him. Each had proposed major redevelopment projects, designed to lure new business into the empty storefronts that surround the city-owned waterfront and the churchs spiritual headquarters. But Scientologist-controlled companies are also sitting on at least 26 vacant lots and 31 empty storefronts and offices. what does holetta mean in polish renault clio steering wheel controls not working hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater. Disloyalty has life-changing consequences. I think it throws a stake in it when one party owns 50 percent or so. 0. You have well connected, https://m.facebook.com/jobs/job-opening/332924608432320/, Scientology a cult of lies scientology a cult of lies, https://www.mikerindersblog.org/scientology-businesses-in-clearwater/, Dealing With Scientology Critics - L Ron Hubbard Playbook, Buzzazz Business Solutions (Keanan Kintzel), Consumer Sales Solutions (Tom Cummins and Jim Bridgeforth), MGE Management Experts (Luis Colon, Greg Winteregg), Nelson Construction and Renovations (Gregory Nelson), NTC Nationwide Title Clearing (John Hillman, Todd Kugler, Norm Novitsky), Root Cause Medical Clinic (Rick and Vikki Petersen), Ted McGrath Brands (Jasmin Napier daughter-in-law of Mike Napier), The Tub Guy (Randy and Molly Baxter, she is the former CO FOLO EUS), Silkin Management Group (located in Portland OR), USA Tree Service LLC (Jim and Karen Kettner). Even city leaders said they didnt know the full extent of the purchases until they were shown maps created by the Times. Claimed. When you stay with us at the Sleep Inn Clearwater-St Petersburg hotel, you can expect stylish accommodations for an affordable rate. In those cases, four or more parcels purchased together clearly comprised a single piece of real estate. The Times counted each parcel that was assigned a value by the property appraiser as a single property with five exceptions. I think it's comparable to say it's kind of, like, if there were to be a Vatican reporter in Vatican City. But after Anthony How Scientology doubled its downtown Clearwater footprint in 3 years | Investigations | Tampa Bay Times, Do not sell or share my personal information. Tom Cruise is moving to Clearwater, Florida to live just blocks away from the Church of Scientology headquarters. Leading up to the waterfront, 22 of the first 33 buildings now have ties to Scientology. If people all over the world would do this, it would change the earth." 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. About 72 percent of those properties are tax exempt for religious uses. It bought a hotel and wrote plans to take control of the city. 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 Church of Scientologyh first landed in Clearwater in 1975 with one hotel property to its name, but the organization had elaborate plans to spread its reach across the entire downtown area, In just three years, starting with a frantic land grab in January 2017, Scientology doubled its footprint in the city, The Church of Scientology doubled its footprint in Clearwater, Florida in a matter of just three years after shelling out $103million to snatch up 185 properties that cover 101 acres of the city's downtown area. In addition to a park and amphitheater, Imagine Clearwater also calls for several new projects on the waterfront with residences and retail. A buyer, whose identity Chesney never learned, agreed to his asking price without countering $1 million cash for the adjoining parcels, which was four times the value set by the Pinellas County Property Appraiser. Oddly enough, half of those properties werent on sale and half of the sales went for more than double the propertys actual value. Over half are owned or operated by Scientologists. Church of Scientology's presence in Pinellas County Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has bought 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name: 58 are in the. 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. Seven businesses have left following recent purchases, and at least three more are leaving this year, including Clearwater Plumbing and Gulf Coast Marine. Scientologys international spiritual headquarters is anchored by the Flag Building, on left. City officials are trying to make the area a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. 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. Andrus helped carry out a plan to stop a Scientologist who had spied on the federal government from turning himself in to the FBI. After negotiations, Kerrs company paid Yarbrough $1.1 million in cash for the lots, then valued by Pinellas County at $331,000. New Pasco County commissioner accused of faking his residency, Guide to Plant Citys Strawberry Festival, one of the largest festivals in the nation, Gov. Scientology proposed a major redevelopment project meant to lure in new business to the empty stores in the citys waterfront area and near the churchs headquarters, but the council interfered, botching plans for a land deal that the church wanted for its expansion plan. ', 'Ever since Ive been here, and ever since Ive dealt with Scientology officials, I have heard the leaders articulate that they want to see a vibrant downtown,,' Longtime City Manager Bill Horne, who wanted to turn downtown into a mall and entertainment center, said. 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. In the 70s, Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in a Scientology plan to infiltrate the government. What Clearwaters City Council thinks, Scientologys 40 years of conflict with Clearwater, recapped, See a slideshow of all the churchs buildings. These workers sign billion year contracts, are paid very little, work around the clock. or "selling postcards" or borrowing money. The city wants to turn downtown into a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. The Church did however slam the Times for its reporting for having a 'preconceived agenda to present every Scientology story in a false and unfavorable light.'. June 22, 2022; Posted by . February 27, 2023 7:03 PM. Mike Rinder, who led Scientologys intelligence arm before defecting in 2007, said any property owned by a parishioner is in the churchs control. BBC's 1million star Zoe Ball, 52, lands big new payday for Abba show on ITV. But they werent ready to sell the building, which they had owned for 27 years. Help us keep bringing stories like this to you. When the city was considering buying the aquariums lot, Miscavige threatened to stop communicating until the 2020 election, when term limits would force most of the council out of office. You have some buyers here that their motivations are not really clear, he said, so its tough to make economic sense out of it.. L Ron Hubbard From HCOPL URGENT ORG PROGRAMMING, "We own a tremendous amount of property. Minkoff had his medical license suspended for a year after it . In September, Andrus completed construction there on Marina Bay 880, two towers that hug the marina with 87 luxury condos and amenities like an Olympic-sized pool and sauna. His partner is Scientologist Maria Dolores Gregori Fuster. Theres no such thing in Scientology. Can you give me a sense of the scale and how they have made this happen with the relatively little fanfare over the years? Copyright 2019 NPR. When the council voted to buy the property, the chamber erupted in applause. Although I find Clearwater to be fairly safe, it has more crime than Naples. CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) A newspaper report says the Church of Scientology and companies run by its members spent more than $100 million over the past . hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater. Argall left the church and was forced to abandon his business of more than 20 years. Clarion Inn & Suites Central Clearwater Beach has an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, a restaurant and bar in Clearwater. 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. Terri Novitsky and Hayes did not return calls and emails requesting comment. An empty Walgreens. They were very secretive, he said. He walked away with nothing. In 2017 the church acquired six downtown Clearwater retail properties through limited liability companies. You'll find plenty of sites, activities, and attractions to explore near our pet-friendly Clearwater hotel, including downtown Tampa and downtown St. Petersburg, which is only 30 minutes away, Celebration Station, Honeymoon Island State Park, Clearwater Beach, Caladesi Island State Park, and Busch Gardens. In a letter to the Times, the church denied it ever tried to take control of the city. hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater. by . 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 few that chose to speak on selling their property said they were approached by a Scientologist who made offers and paid in cash. It said information in parishioner folders is sacrosanct and claims of blackmail have long since been disproven.. 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. Big Brother is a character and symbol that represents a society where every citizen is under constant surveillance, constantly reminded of this by the slogan "Big . Concerned he wouldnt be able to pay his mortgage, Argall said he deeded the building, appraised at $780,000, back to the previous owner. While theres no law against hanging onto property, developers typically buy land, build on it and sell it for profit. Zano did not respond to questions about what his plans for the properties. 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. 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. On Sept. 7, Epsteins employee was removed from the corporate filings of the company that own the land. Real estate agent David Kerr represented a buyer that paid more than three times what a property was valued by the county property appraiser. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has purchased 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name. 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. I had to make a decision, Bosi said. People arrive for the celebration of the opening of the new Scientology Flag Building on November 16, 2013 in Clearwater, Scientology boasts 10million followers, but surveys and accounts from former members suggest there are no more than 30,000 worldwide. 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. 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 he believes Scientology is responding to the citys efforts by creating a buffer to keep the public away. and last updated 7:53 PM, Oct 21, 2019. And he was going to build an entertainment complex with Tom Cruise. 'I dont mix my personal business with other areas in my life,'Terri Novitsky, a Scientologist who manages a company that bought two office buildings on Chestnut Street in 2017, said. Over the past two years, the properties surrounding the shop have been sold to Scientologist-controlled companies. He had committed to downtown in 1997. Police were quick to respond. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So tell me about these land purchases. The Church takes seriously its responsibility and interest in the future of the area. Some of the parishioners have a history of working on Scientologys behalf. Since it was founded in 1955, Scientology has purchased hundreds, possibly thousands of buildings. Show more. A for-lease sign sits in long-vacant retail space at The SkyView condo tower, owned by Scientologist and developer Moises Agami. As a Designed to Dream property, we've created a relaxing environment so that you can start your day well-rested. This gallery shows all 60 properties Scientology owns under its name in Pinellas county and the six retail properties the church acquired through limited liability companies in 2017. Scientology is a snitching culture and it's deeply embedded.) Toxic trauma expert Gabor Mate diagnoses Prince Harry with attention deficit disorder but tells him it CAN 'I felt different to the rest of my family - and my mum felt the same': Prince Harry opens up on his 'broken 'He's completely beige drained of all his feisty ginger life-blood': JULIE BURCHILL'S verdict on Prince 'I was a bit of a mess': Amanda Abbington reveals she considered suicide after split from ex Martin Freeman DR ELLIE CANNON: My breast has not got lumps but it's itchy, should I be concerned about cancer at age 72? During spiritual counseling, parishioners are interrogated about their deepest secrets, which are recorded in folders and stored indefinitely. 'There is nothing unnatural about Scientologists wanting to live in the same city that houses the international spiritual headquarters of their church,' a letter signed by Scientology attorney Gary Soter to the Times said. Flag is what they call it, and it's the international spiritual headquarters of the church. Miscaviges offer to revitalize downtown hinged on the city ending its attempt to buy one vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. The churchs campus grew slowly over decades. Internal church documents detailed missions that planted spies in the state attorneys office, the Chamber of Commerce and the Clearwater Sun newspaper. Scientology in Clearwater Big Brother is Watching You. Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater. 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. Ever since Ive been here, and ever since Ive dealt with Scientology officials, I have heard the leaders articulate that they want to see a vibrant downtown, Horne said. Fischler offered Bosi $1.4 million, almost three times what the property was valued. 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? Moreover, tens of thousands of Scientologists travel to the city each year from around the world to participate in religious services at the Church's spiritual home. Clearwater is the permanent home to more than 10,000 Scientology parishioners. An elevated walkway connects the building to the Fort Harrison Hotel, the churchs first purchase in the city in 1975. 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. Scientology came to downtown Clearwater in 1975. Delk described the projects which require voter approval as key to the plans success. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler brokered at least 10 downtown sales on behalf of seven buyers. They doubled the churchs footprint in less than three years. A deserted coin laundry. He wanted the council to stop trying to buy a vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. This one is owned by a parishioner who had been featured on the churchs Meet a Scientologist video series. The Church has not revealed any motive behind their domination of downtown Clearwater. The church has amassed 60 properties in Pinellas County since arriving in 1975. Take away the church footprint, a few condo towers and all buildings owned by the government. Critics of the church say that the Scientology bought the downtown properties to keep the public at bay. Lee sold when Fischler upped her offer to $410,000 cash for the building valued at $109,000 by the property appraiser. Ron DeSantis on Monday undid a looming $1.2 billion tax hike on Central Florida residents that he inadvertently imposed a year ago in a hastily passed bill meant to punish Walt Disney Co. for criticizing his so-called "Don't Say Gay" law. We own a tremendous amount of material and so forth, and it keeps growing. MCMANUS: Yeah, I think that the key here is the uncertainty. The controversial church first landed in Clearwater in 1975 with one hotel property to its name, but the organization had elaborate plans to spread its reach across the entire downtown area. Former parishioners say the church has a history of interfering in Scientologists downtown business. What a difference in Mike from then and now., The Q&A session began at 2PM. Scientologys extraordinary influence over its members has been documented in government investigations and testimony from former parishioners throughout its 65-year history. What you know is what you know and to have the courage to know and say what you have observed".- LRH from Personal Integrity, "It is necessary to happiness of man, that he be mentally faithful to himself. 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. City Council member Mark Bunker said although the church is not the official buyer of the downtown and North Marina properties, there is reason to believe Scientology leader David Miscavige is orchestrating the parishioner-operated companies making the acquisitions. Investigative journalism like this is the most expensive work that we do. The city and the church fought in court for years. Were she in Utah, would the Times intrepid reporter have headlined that 'Mormons are buying up property in downtown Salt Lake City!' GARCIA-NAVARRO: And I guess the larger concern is that this could really thwart the city's plans for redevelopment if the Scientologist organizations are going to have all this property that they're going to keep for their own purposes.