Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Tracey McManus is a Scientology reporter for the paper, and she joins us now. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler brokered at least 10 downtown sales on behalf of seven buyers. After leaving Caliber Wells, Rodney Riley began working with Megan and Stephen Epstein. Former parishioners say the church has a history of interfering in Scientologists downtown business. We previously reported on CA South Development. Operatives framed the mayor in a staged hit-and-run and spread false rumors he was having an extramarital affair. Since July 2019, eight limited liability companies managed or operated by members of the church have bought 45 properties in North Marina, including Chesneys. Osman Ozsan is of interest to us because he is connected to Rod Riley, a non-Scientologist realtor and real estate developer from Arizona. 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. Theyve got one intention, and one intention only, De Vocht said. After negotiations, Kerrs company paid Yarbrough $1.1 million in cash for the lots, then valued by Pinellas County at $331,000. In 2016, city consultants began planning what has become a $64 million effort to reinvigorate the waterfront called Imagine Clearwater. Flag is supposed to be an insulated oasis. But its potential is still untapped, with prime vacant land overlooking Clearwater Harbor. 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. CBRE is an acronym for CB Richard Ellis. The 1.4 acre lot was across the street from City Hall and adjacent to a 13-story Scientology religious retreat. Indeed, Scientology used the name The United Churches of Florida to purchase the Fort Harrison in 1975 for $3 million in cash. In North America, Melitta is the leading brand of coffee filters. I would ask that you clarify the reference to CBRE. About $15.9 million was paid in cash. In the world of scientologywhere anything goes and all laws in the wog world by damnedits Christmas 24/7. Among other things, Ozsan is, according to our source, Trish Duggans money manager. Right now, at least 30 businesses owned by non-parishioners are renting from Scientologists. Church officials used a straw corporation to buy the historic Fort Harrison Hotel and moved in under a fake name. 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. My sister is always struggling with money and drugs: I own a house with my husband and mother. [ The full history: Scientologys 40 years of conflict with the City of Clearwater, recapped ]. Businesses might see this city project and say, yeah, let me take a chance on downtown and open up a business. Scientology leader David Miscavige had his own redevelopment plan. CONNIE HUMBURG, TRACEY McMANUS, ELI MURRAY, ELI ZHANG | Times. 20, 2019. When the council voted to buy the property, the chamber erupted in applause. Soters comment evokes for us what Captain Renault said in Casablanca: Im shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!. You have some buyers here that their motivations are not really clear, he said, so its tough to make economic sense out of it.. On Sept. 7, Epsteins employee was removed from the corporate filings of the company that own the land. But even when the church isnt in control, its presence can deter development. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So the fact that the church is now buying up these properties through proxy organizations would maybe ring some alarm bells for the community because of what has happened in the past. Block after block, vacant lots sit untouched, and storefronts remain empty: A former jewelry store. 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. This month, Shahab Emrani was elected to the Downtown Development Board, which helps promote downtown. MCMANUS: Yeah, that's a good question. The churchs influence comes from the estimated $3 billion in cash and assets it has collected from its followers. Businesses without ties to the church are moving into a few of those. 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. They called it, quote, "little more than self-serving propaganda intended to give the appearance of objective reporting." 2. Fair Game: Leah Remini & Mike Rinders Podcast, The Aftermath Foundation: Help for Those Who Want to Leave the Sea Org, Scientologys Membership Contract Goes Down in Flames in Court, Chris Shelton's Sensibly Speaking Podcast, Dr. Steven Hassan's Freedom of Mind Resource Center, Stefani Hutchison's Confront & Shatter Blog, The Aftermath Foundation: Helping Those Who Have Left the Sea Org, More Scientologists Getting Into Crypto: Alfreddie Johnson and Karilyn Youngman-Trammell and Their Solar Gold Cryptocurrency, More Grant Cardone Fraud: His Plan for Businesses to Use Credit Cards to Pay for Cardone Sales Training and then Declare Bankruptcy, Church of Scientology International(158), Scientology Fair Game: Cult Leader David Miscavige Orders Attacks on Marc Headley and His Business, US Federal Prosecutor Now Investigating Retired LAPD Cop & Scientology Pal Captain Cory Palka for Corruption, Subpoena-Evader and Thug Life Scientology Leader David Miscavige Served a Subpoena by a US Federal Court on Valentines Day 2023, Scientologist David Gentile Goes Down in Flames in the Pretrial Phase of His US Federal Criminal Case. Fischler did not respond to phone messages, a certified letter or a note left at her condo. DEUTERIUM INVESTMENT ADVISORS LIMITED I saw a business opportunity, he said. Epstein declined to name his client but responded to questions from the Timeswith an affidavit declaring it was not the Church of Scientology. In January and February 2017, a handful of limited liability companies bought six prime downtown parcels. EMPIRICAL PROSPECTING COMPANY LIMITED. Rice said hes been surprised that he has not been approached by brokers trying to buy his 10,000-square-foot building. New details about the case of Lisa McPherson, who died in the care of Scientologists, from the executive who directed the Church of Scientologys handling of the case. And inside those findings was a plan that Scientology operatives had created and written to establish area control. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler, a Scientologist, called and showed up to the shop a handful of times in mid-2018. In San Diego, Taylor Guitars and Deering Banjo Company. Scientologys survival depends on the preservation of its headquarters in Clearwater. His wife, parishioner and real estate agent, Terri Novitsky, represented the buyer in many of the deals, according to interviews with sellers. The churchs hostility toward the public became clear from its first days in the city in fall 1975. 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. This is a big giveaway in our view. If you are looking for a career where your coworkers and leadership care about you and your success, AMI is the right place! The hotel has 11 stories and features 220 rooms, three restaurants, a swimming pool and a . Story by TRACEY McMANUS In a letter to the Times, the church denied it ever tried to take control of the city. Many of the properties werent on the market. The downtown and North Marina properties bought by limited liability companies managed or operated by members of Scientology remain on the tax rolls. 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 . The church has shed no light on its plans. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Hayes, the attorney and parishioner involved in the rest of the North Marina purchases, was added as manager on the companies filings. We also hold the distinction of being the first Scientology Church in the Southern Hemisphere. That's the findings of a story in the Tampa Bay Times that's headlined clear takeover. Instead, the aquarium sold it to the city in April 2017 for a lot less $4.25 million. 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 . Once we dug into the data and pulled records, we found that LLCs tied to the Church of Scientology had bought about 100 properties. Visitors walk through downtown on a Friday. (Everything owned by parishioner-run companies is still on the tax rolls. MCMANUS: Yeah, I think that the key here is the uncertainty. But companies controlled by different parishioners bought neighboring properties that create clear assemblages of land. Zano did not respond to questions about what his plans for the properties. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has bought 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name: 58 are in the city of Clearwater and 49 are downtown. Its important for me to communicate with the Scientologists in Clearwater and have that ability to work side-by-side, Riley said, also noting he is now based in Clearwater. I saw a business opportunity, Ezra said. And he was going to recruit high-end retail to some of the empty storefronts because downtown Clearwater's pretty depressed. If the council in 2020 isnt on board with doing something his way, hes going to do it himself.. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with reporter Tracey McManus. Many of their properties weren't listed for sale. The 2017-2019 Downtown Clearwater land purchases made by Scientologists totaled $103 million. But his offer had a catch. 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. His job appears to be one of a PR guy who can appeal to Clearwater City Government. Thats not happening with almost any of these properties., [ More reaction: What Clearwaters City Council thinks about Scientologys downtown takeover ]. In 2017 the church acquired six downtown Clearwater retail properties through limited liability companies. Andrus did not respond to an email, phone message, a note left at his office or a certified letter. ANTIFRAGILE LIMITED 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. It appears that Project Normandy is still operational. The new owners also are sitting on about 30 undeveloped lots. 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. 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. Made an offer. I just was curious if this is possibly a decent job or if EVERY scientologist owned company is a recruiting scam. Its too soon to say how the shift in ownership will affect downtown. Project Normandy was described in one of hundreds of internal memos Scientology officials exchanged about their plans to infiltrate and control Clearwater. The lack of action from Scientology-tied buyers has precedent. He took over Bob Lees Auto to continue the business legacy and served on the Downtown Development Board for a decade. That has led defectors from the church and city leaders to believe there is little chance parishioners are making significant real estate deals around Scientologys mecca without the churchs involvement. 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