Many of the properties werent on the market. 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.'. He walked away with nothing. Although Zano is not well known in Clearwater, the companies spent $16.7 million acquiring 26 commercial properties downtown. 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. 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. From $150.62 per night. #1 of 10 resorts in Clearwater. They also pointed to the latest edition of their Freedom magazine for what they called an accurate portrayal of the church and its members in Clearwater. They have control over what businesses, if any, come in. Fischler approached Bosi again in September. John Travolta sells home near Scientology HQ for $4M - New York Post The Fort Harrison Hotel serves as the flagship building of the Flag Land Base, the Church of Scientology 's spiritual headquarters in Clearwater, Florida, US. A few months later, the newcomers admitted they were actually Scientology. 'The Church was unaware of the significant number of properties owned by Scientologists in the Clearwater area and are delighted you provided the information,' the letter added. List of trademarks owned by the Church of Scientology and its Of the $103 million spent, $99 million was paid in cash. The land grab started as tensions grew between the church and the Clearwater City Council. Mike Rinder, who led Scientologys intelligence arm before defecting in 2007, said any property owned by a parishioner is in the churchs control. Oddly enough, half of those properties werent on sale and half of the sales went for more than double the propertys actual value. Looking at the Times map of the new ownership, City Council member David Allbritton recalled a moment from 2017 that now seems telling. They spent $6.5 million to renovate the public Seminole Boat Ramp, a popular centerpiece seen as a sign of the citys commitment. Do I spend another 10 years and see what happens in downtown Clearwater?, Scientology, Pinellas County and Clearwater Reporter. They adopted a master plan in 2016 that envisioned housing, a hotel and shopping to complement what they hope will be Clearwaters revitalized downtown less than a mile to the south. Then walk down Cleveland Street downtowns main artery. 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. 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. Just make more income with Scientology. By the Numbers: Scientologists in the Clearwater Community The main reason why developers didnt want it was they didnt want to be near the Church of Scientology, Searcy said. This month, Shahab Emrani was elected to the Downtown Development Board, which helps promote downtown. Clearwater is home to one of the Church's most important bases, a campus called Flag (above), which Scientologists across the globe make pilgrimages to. AND it is NOT in a Flood Zone! About $15.9 million was paid in cash. 'The true story of downtown development is presented in an article in that Freedom, 'Who Is The Real Block To Downtown Revitalization?' GARCIA-NAVARRO: It's the type of servitude. Boca Raton, FL . Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? These workers sign billion year contracts, are paid very little, work around the clock. 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. They keep their operations going. Bosi wasnt interested. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Just out of curiosity, when you say the tactics that they used in the '70s, what were those? Scientologists began to purchase properties through limited liability companies which are required by law to disclose their operators but not their owners. 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. But in the 70s, Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in Scientologys government espionage scheme, which sent 11 Scientologists to federal prison. Graphics by ELI MURRAY The city wants to turn downtown into a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. Tom Cruise is moving to Clearwater, Florida to live just blocks away from the Church of Scientology headquarters. Any property owned by a Scientologist or linked to a Scientologist is owned by the church, because the church owns its parishioners, said De Vocht, the former executive in charge of real estate, who reported directly to Miscavige. 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. Flag is run by the churchs full-time workforce, the Sea Org, whose members sign billion-year contracts and work around the clock. 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. Theres no such thing in Scientology. hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater In interviews, sellers said most of the transactions unfolded the same way. [ The full history: Scientologys 40 years of conflict with the City of Clearwater, recapped ]. Accuracy and availability may vary. And half the sales were for more than double what the properties were valued by the county property appraiser, the Times found. Report: Scientologists Spend $103 Million on Property in - Insider In January and February 2017, as the council was preparing to approve the consultants concept, a handful of companies bought six commercial properties downtown. ( magazine) Applied Philosophy. Clarion Inn & Suites Central Clearwater Beach has an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, a restaurant and bar in Clearwater. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Explain to me why the paper has a Scientology reporter. Hubbard had a vision of making Clearwater a spiritual home for his Church of Scientology. 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. 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. The Bon Apptit Group | Clearwater, FL In the 70s, Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in a Scientology plan to infiltrate the government. Letsgetstarted. Source: Lived in Florida for 15 . 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. They haven't submitted redevelopment plans. As a Designed to Dream property, we've created a relaxing environment so that you can start your day well-rested. Then, the . Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Masked protesters target Scientology's 'tactics', page 1 That point is brought home in an editorial ('One Community, Many Good People' ) in the new edition of our Freedom Magazine. Four high-ranking defectors describe bizarre behavior and physical beatings inflicted by Scientology leader David Miscavige. Since it was founded in 1955, Scientology has purchased hundreds, possibly thousands of buildings. Both are supposed to open soon. Andrus involvement in Scientology goes back decades and includes his participation in a plan during the 1970s to stop a church member who had spied on the federal government from turning himself in to the FBI. In addition to a park and amphitheater, Imagine Clearwater also calls for several new projects on the waterfront with residences and retail. Fischler, a local real estate agent, negotiated at least 10 of the downtown deals, according to interviews with sellers. They include consumer products, a lighting manufacturer, development firms, fitness, advertising and marketing, environmental services and financial advisers. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has purchased 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name. Scientologists buy dozens of properties in Florida city, newspaper 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. MCMANUS: You know, Lulu, from my reporting, I've learned that there's a lot of mistrust and suspicion still in the community when it comes to Scientology because a lot of the residents here were living in the city when Scientology arrived in the '70s, and they remember the tactics Scientology used. Top Hotels Closest to Church of Scientology in St. Petersburg He saw the area improve when police cracked down on drugs and prostitution decades ago. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Osman Ozsan is, in our opinion, one of the more notable Scientologists you've never heard of. Scientologist Stu Sjouwerman Plans a $100 Million NASDAQ IPO for His 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. All rights reserved. For Sale: 500000 - Residential, 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,315 sqft at 1359 HOWARD STREET in Clearwater South. A deserted coin laundry. 1359 HOWARD STREET, Clearwater, FL, 33756 Point2 Now, companies connected to the Church of Scientology are buying tracts of land within the 55-acre district and not disclosing what they plan to do with them. The Church of Scientology doubled its footprint in Clearwater, Florida in just three years after shelling out $103million The Church first landed in Clearwater in 1975 with one hotel. And Clearwater is home to one of the Church's most important bases, a campus called Flag, which established Scientologists from across the globe make pilgrimages to. Scientology came to downtown Clearwater in 1975. Yarbrough never learned the buyers identity. Clearwater is the permanent home to more than 10,000 Scientology parishioners. Nearly all of the properties were bought through limited liability companies, which are required to disclose their operators but not their owners. The Church has not revealed any motive behind their domination of downtown Clearwater. Clearwater referendum seeks $400M mixed-use development, sans Scientology The new owners also are sitting on about 30 undeveloped lots. When will the Beast from the East be at YOUR door? In six cases, buyers made four times the propertys value deemed by the county property appraiser. While theres no law against hanging onto property, developers typically buy land, build on it and sell it for profit. Review. Share. Andrus helped carry out a plan to stop a Scientologist who had spied on the federal government from turning himself in to the FBI. They haven't started construction - or are they going to redevelop them and bring businesses in and contribute to a vibrant downtown?