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. Lares declined again when Fischler met him at a restaurant in Pinellas Park for lunch, and once more when she tried in May. David Gentile is creative with money and had hundreds of bank accounts and sub-funds when he ran GPB Capital. 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. Since July 2019, eight limited liability companies managed or operated by members of the church have bought 45 properties in North Marina, including Chesneys. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Just out of curiosity, when you say the tactics that they used in the '70s, what were those? Leading up to the waterfront, 22 of the first 33 buildings now have ties to Scientology. Both the Church of Scientology and GPB Capital denied it. None of the other parishioners whose companies bought property since 2017 responded to questions about their plans. Of the $103 million spent, $99 million was paid in cash. Church officials used a straw corporation to buy the historic Fort Harrison Hotel and moved in under a fake name. The Church of Scientology has done many things at a remove or by a ruse, feint, or stratagem. The hotel has 11 stories and features 220 rooms, three restaurants, a swimming pool and a . Shahab and Catherine Emrani who manage companies that purchased four commercial buildings, retail space in a condo and vacant land have given at least $1.75 million to the church. The Church of Scientology, its members and companies controlled by its members have spent $103 million over the past three years buying retail property in downtown Clearwater, Fla., according. It also has to be someone who trusts the Epsteins enough to invest with them. The church requires followers to shun family members, friends and business contacts who defy it. We built a graphic demonstrating just how little is left. If this is Trish Duggans money, and Scientologist Osman Ozsan manages her money, then that could very likely make Trish Duggan the Scientologist financier behind the scenes on the Clearwater land purchases. Internal church documents detailed missions that planted spies in the state attorneys office, the Chamber of Commerce and the Clearwater Sun newspaper. 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. It is a big faux pas in business PR to bring up the subject of religion when it is absolutely unnecessary to do so. But his offer had a catch. In an interview with Scientology-owned "Freedom Magazine" Gendusa said that she moved to Clearwater to study Scientology more than 25 years ago. Companies controlled by Hayes have bought about half the property on Rices block and nearly the entire block directly south. He had committed to downtown in 1997. And it's all surrounding the city's downtown waterfront. 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. We interpret it as the Tampa Bay Times getting too close for Mr. Epsteins comfort. And yes, everyone that works here is asked to keep politics and religion out . They started hosting concerts on the waterfront that now draw thousands. 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. 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. Can you give me a sense of the scale and how they have made this happen with the relatively little fanfare over the years? Miscaviges offer to revitalize downtown hinged on the city ending its attempt to buy one vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. But the promised downtown revival never came. He promoted the site to about 75 hoteliers and developers across the country. All they did was act like children and make crude sex/homophobic/racial jokes about being raped, gangbanged, etc. The Tampa Bay Times discovered them by reviewing more than 1,000 deeds and business records, then interviewed more than 90 people to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding the transactions. 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. 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. Inc. magazine's 2019 report on the 5,000 fastest-growing privately owned businesses in America cites 16 firms based in Clearwater. For example, David Miscaviges personal lawyer of 35 years Monique Yingling has never been a Scientologist. 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: Yeah, that's a good question. Agami also signed two more leases on the same block with restaurants owned by people not connected to the church. 2. Clearwater is the permanent home to more than 10,000 Scientology parishioners. During spiritual counseling, parishioners are interrogated about their deepest secrets, which are recorded in folders and stored indefinitely. 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. The Church of Scientology, its members and companies controlled by its members have spent $103 million over the past three years buying retail property in downtown Clearwater, Fla., according to the Tampa Bay Times. Your characterization that his religious affiliations somehow control his business activities is evidence of personal bias against his religion, Zaretsky wrote. I think it's comparable to say it's kind of, like, if there were to be a Vatican reporter in Vatican City. The majority of this property now stands vacant, and given the Church's tax exempt status, has limitless potential for development. When the council voted to buy the property, the chamber erupted in applause. Much of downtown Clearwater is now owned by people or companies tied to Scientology, a report finds. High-ranking defectors provide an unprecedented inside look at Scientology, its leader and the Lisa McPherson case. Fuster and Ozsan go back a long way to Altea Real Property Ltd. in London. In the world of scientologywhere anything goes and all laws in the wog world by damnedits Christmas 24/7. The memos were later seized by the FBI. MCMANUS: Right - because the city officials have said that there's only so many factors they control. [ The full history: Scientologys 40 years of conflict with the City of Clearwater, recapped ]. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It was a very turbulent time. This is a very interesting report. 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. Copyright 2019 NPR. Rice said hes been surprised that he has not been approached by brokers trying to buy his 10,000-square-foot building. I just was curious if this is possibly a decent job or if EVERY scientologist owned company is a recruiting scam. Non-Scientologists who get too close are a threat to the operation, said Mat Pesch, who spent 27 years in the Sea Org and worked as Flags treasury secretary before defecting in 2005. Its a business, Pesch said. Hes encouraged by city investments in the boat ramp and North Ward Elementary, and holds out hope that the undeveloped lots and dilapidated homes will be replaced with something vibrant. I would ask that you clarify the reference to CBRE. The downtown and North Marina properties bought by limited liability companies managed or operated by members of Scientology remain on the tax rolls. Columnist Stephanie Hayes will share thoughts, feelings and funny business with you every Monday. Be informed that their owners are local Scientologists who support the abuses of Scientology leader David Miscavige. The 2017-2019 Downtown Clearwater land purchases made by Scientologists totaled $103 million. The church also targeted the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Justice and scores of foreign governments. And $99 million of the $103 million in real-estate deals over the past three years were in cash. But Scientologist-controlled companies are also sitting on at least 26 vacant lots and 31 empty storefronts and offices. The church offered $15 million for the parcel. Please consider supporting us with a tax-deductible donation to the Tampa Bay Times Investigative Fund. 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. 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. 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. Members have to answer to their ethics officer for any act of disloyalty to Scientologys mission. Mike Rinder, who led Scientologys intelligence arm before defecting in 2007, said any property owned by a parishioner is in the churchs control. Both have been there for decades. The Church of Scientology and companies run by its members spent $103 million over the past three years buying up vast sections of downtown Clearwater. DEUTERIUM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED 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. 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. Amazing Place to Work. Over half are owned or operated by Scientologists. 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 have completed courses and spiritual counseling that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. The church acquired three others in a land swap. 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. She reported full-time for six months, interviewing more than 90 people and reviewing more than 1,000 documents, to bring you this story. 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. can t use carpenter's workbench skyrim; how long does it take a rat to starve to death; cowboy hat making supplies; why would i get a letter from circuit clerk Write by: . "You have some buyers here that their motivations are not really clear," he said, "so it's tough to make economic sense out . 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. Longtime City Manager Bill Horne said he cant tell whether the church wants the same thing. 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. 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. Construction on eight townhomes on the south end of the marina began Oct. 1, according to county records. GPB Capital Holdings: Court-Appointed Monitors Report on Q4 2022 Activities. 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