Rodney Riley is an interesting character in this whole thing. The total of all Scientology-connected Clearwater real estate purchases $114.8 million. ANTIFRAGILE LIMITED This purchase was part of Project Normandy, a covert Scientology program to take over Clearwater. Concerned he wouldnt be able to pay his mortgage, Argall said he deeded the building, appraised at $780,000, back to the previous owner. Here is a map showing the parcels in purple which Riley is acquiring: We have previously offered our opinion that the $102 million in Downtown Clearwater land purchases made by Scientologists came from GPB Capital Holdings. Thats not happening with almost any of these properties., [ More reaction: What Clearwaters City Council thinks about Scientologys downtown takeover ]. Gentile also purchased several Clearwater companies owned by Scientologists who may have invested the proceeds into land deals. Spa not owned by a Scientologist. businesses owned by scientologists. Many of the properties werent on the market. He is linked to the Church of Scientology via the Epsteins and Trish Duggan. And it's also basically the financial nucleus of the entire organization. Epstein declined to name his client but responded to questions from the Times with an affidavit declaring it was not the Church of Scientology. Do you own your house? I just was curious if this is possibly a decent job or if EVERY scientologist owned company is a recruiting scam. He is not listed on the corporate filings for any of the eight limited liability companies that recently bought the North Marina properties. Hes still holding out. Half the sales were for more than double what the properties were valued at by the county property appraiser. Right now, at least 30 businesses owned by non-parishioners are renting from Scientologists. Gentile also purchased several Clearwater companies owned by Scientologists who may have invested the proceeds into land deals. Block after block, vacant lots sit untouched, and storefronts remain empty: A former jewelry store. My true love gave to me/Three French hens/Two turtle doves/And a partridge in a pear tree). But Scientologist-controlled companies are also sitting on at least 26 vacant lots and 31 empty storefronts and offices. Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has purchased 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name. The analysis did not include residential parcels except in cases where they were bought in conjunction with commercial property or vacant land. Our opinion is that Riley was instructed to get ahead of the story by bringing up Scientology before he was asked about it. 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. David Gentile is creative with money and had hundreds of bank accounts and sub-funds when he ran GPB Capital. Should we cut my sister out of the family inheritance? Almost all of the properties were quietly bought through limited liability companies required to disclose their operators but not their owners as is pretty standard in real estate. CLEARWATER Ed Chesney had two rental homes and two vacant lots in the North Marina Area on the market for a year before his real estate agent called in late 2019 with good news. 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. Clearwater is the permanent home to more than 10,000 Scientology parishioners. Although that arrangement is standard in real estate, it makes it impossible to know whether the properties are owned by the Scientologists who manage the companies, the wealthy church or another hidden party. Mike Rinder, who led Scientologys intelligence arm before defecting in 2007, said any property owned by a parishioner is in the churchs control. He promoted the site to about 75 hoteliers and developers across the country. They paid $26 million. The few willing to answer questions said Scientology has no influence on their real estate dealings. His job appears to be one of a PR guy who can appeal to Clearwater City Government. 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. Scientology leader David Miscavige told city officials the properties were part of the churchs proposed retail redevelopment plan. The companies paid a combined $11.8 million in cash for 28 undeveloped parcels, five empty commercial buildings and a dozen homes in the district, most of them dilapidated. 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 . In Mesa, its the Mormon Church that dominates the area and I was able to work in that environment. GARCIA-NAVARRO: And we reached out to the Church of Scientology about the Tampa Bay Times report. [1] That's the findings of a story in the Tampa Bay Times that's headlined clear takeover. 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 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. High-ranking defectors provide an unprecedented inside look at Scientology, its leader and the Lisa McPherson case. 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. In the 70s, Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in a Scientology plan to infiltrate the government. Agami, the developer whose family gave $10 million, leased a storefront to a non-Scientologist that has become a successful restaurant since opening in 2017. Typically, when people buy commercial real estate, they move forward with construction or redevelopment. The Times counted each parcel that was assigned a value by the property appraiser as a single property with five exceptions. Times reporters built a database of hundreds of properties in the center of Clearwaters downtown. The city has no record yet of redevelopment plans being submitted for any of the North Marina properties since the purchases began, according to planning and development director Gina Clayton. Indeed, Scientology used the name The United Churches of Florida to purchase the Fort Harrison in 1975 for $3 million in cash. I would ask that you clarify the reference to CBRE. The Church was unaware of the land purchases? More interesting is that the 15 parcels of land Riley plans acquire in Clearwater are owned by Scientologists. Take away the church footprint, a few condo towers and all buildings owned by the government. He has also lived in Hong Kong and South Korea. It was a very turbulent time. 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. Help us keep bringing stories like this to you. The Church of Scientology and companies run by its members have spent $103 million since 2017 buying about 100 properties. Scientology came to downtown Clearwater in 1975. TRACEY MCMANUS: Hi, Lulu. A uniformed member of Scientologys full-time work force, the Sea Org, walks along N Fort Harrison Avenue, passing a vacant restaurant. The Church is the largest property taxpayer in downtown Clearwater, paying nearly $1 million in property taxes last year. Visitors walk through downtown on a Friday. Nearly all of the roughly two dozen people listed as operating the companies are Scientologists. Internal church documents detailed missions that planted spies in the state attorneys office, the Chamber of Commerce and the Clearwater Sun newspaper. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler brokered at least 10 downtown sales on behalf of seven buyers. Hormel says inflation, supply chain issues and weak sales hit earnings, Macy's shares surge as retailer posts earnings well ahead of forecasts, A supposed Scientology cruise ship is quarantined in St. Lucia over measles, Saturday Night Live star Chloe Fineman says Lorne Michaels gave her the best financial advice, As Republicans further intensify Hunter Biden focus, Attorney General Garland insists hes remained hands-off in years-old investigation, Teslas stock falls 5% as Elon Musks Master Plan 3 is short on details about both cars and finances, What's next for bonds in 2023 after the worst year in history. 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. Businesses without ties to the church are moving into a few of those. Members have to answer to their ethics officer for any act of disloyalty to Scientologys mission. Many of the properties werent on the market when the deals were made. Rice said hes been surprised that he has not been approached by brokers trying to buy his 10,000-square-foot building. Candidates and Scientologists Emrani, Kintzel and . Scientologist normally dont deal with outsiders in my experience. They haven't started construction - or are they going to redevelop them and bring businesses in and contribute to a vibrant downtown? The church also targeted the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Justice and scores of foreign governments. They were very secretive, he said. 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 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. Then walk down Cleveland Street downtowns main artery. About 72 percent of those properties are tax exempt for religious uses. Times Staff WritersOct. In response to detailed memos summarizing the reporting, the church criticized the Times for portraying its members as mindless robots and for having a preconceived agenda to present every Scientology story in a false and unfavorable light.. We interpret it as the Tampa Bay Times getting too close for Mr. Epsteins comfort. The Florida Secretary of States record on Rod Rileys RST Capital Advisors LLC: Categories: Clearwater, Osman Ozsan, Trish Duggan, Tagged as: CA South Development, Clearwater Marina District, David Gentile, DEUTERIUM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, DEUTERIUM INVESTMENT ADVISORS LIMITED, Gary Soter, Gregori And Company LLC, Maria Dolores Gregori Fuster, Megan Epstein, Osman Ozsan, Ozsan, RSR Capital Advisors LLC, Stephen Epstein, Tampa Bay Times, Tracey McManus, Trish Duggan, Re: The companies paid a combined $11.8 million in cash for 28 undeveloped parcels, five empty commercial buildings and a dozen homes, When I read that, I couldnt help but be reminded of the English Christmas carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas (On the third day of Christmas/ This gallery shows all 60 properties Scientology owns under its name in Pinellas county and six additional retail properties the church acquired through limited liability companies in 2017. Half the properties were bought since January 2017. Instead, Epstein took the formal step of using an affidavit to deny that the Church of Scientology is not the client. Real estate agent David Kerr represented a buyer that paid more than three times what a property was valued by the county property appraiser. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Who are they buying from, and how much were they offering? NIO stock swings lower after reporting losses that were much wider than expected, 3Ms stock surges after company says DOD data show 90% of earplug plaintiffs had normal hearing, Marc Benioffs Salesforce fairy tale is crumbling down around him. That company has had no connection to Coldwell Banker for decades. And in 1977, the FBI raided Scientology's headquarters in LA and D.C. And they uncovered hundreds of thousands of memos and documents. By then, the churchs intelligence unit was already deploying an elaborate scheme to establish area control in the city. The church promised to spend $55 million. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Andrus helped carry out a plan to stop a Scientologist who had spied on the federal government from turning himself in to the FBI. MCMANUS: Yeah, that's a good question. Scientologys international spiritual headquarters is anchored by the Flag Building, on left. 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. A for-lease sign sits in long-vacant retail space at The SkyView condo tower, owned by Scientologist and developer Moises Agami. VIDEO: Finally, Scientific Proof that Scientologys Body Thetans Cannot Exist! (I'm in Clearwater). He took over Bob Lees Auto to continue the business legacy and served on the Downtown Development Board for a decade. 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. And yes, everyone that works here is asked to keep politics and religion out . Can you give me a sense of the scale and how they have made this happen with the relatively little fanfare over the years? This makes no sense, except of course to a bigot.. And half the sales were for more than double what the properties were valued by the county property appraiser, the Times found. Sep 19, 2022 - Anonymous Employee in Clearwater, FL. Letsgetstarted. Paid in cash. 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. It said information in parishioner folders is sacrosanct and claims of blackmail have long since been disproven.. Hayes, the attorney and parishioner involved in the rest of the North Marina purchases, was added as manager on the companies filings. The churchs hostility toward the public became clear from its first days in the city in fall 1975. MCMANUS: Brokers representing these companies were approaching downtown property owners. 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. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. Since July 2019, eight limited liability companies managed or operatedby members of the church have bought 45 properties in North Marina, including Chesneys. They posted guards wielding billy clubs and mace. 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. 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. Businesses might see this city project and say, yeah, let me take a chance on downtown and open up a business. How Riley made the jump from a regional Coldwell Banker slot in Arizona to suddenly handling a proposed $350 million Clearwater Marina District development is certainly interesting and raises questions we are looking into. And our analysis found that these church officials were offering two, three, four times what the property appraiser said the properties were valued. 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. 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. Of the $103 million spent, $99 million was paid in cash. City officials plan to partner with a developer on ways to adapt the red brick schoolhouse, like turning it into a hub for restaurants, retail, or apartments. and last updated 7:53 PM, Oct 21, 2019. 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. There is ZERO chance of me getting sucked in. 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. Seven businesses have left following recent purchases, and at least three more are leaving this year, including Clearwater Plumbing and Gulf Coast Marine. 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. DEUTERIUM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED 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. Project Normandy was described in one of hundreds of internal memos Scientology officials exchanged about their plans to infiltrate and control Clearwater. 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. I had to make a decision, Bosi said. Then the council interfered with a land deal that Scientology demanded for its plan. Originally founded in 1955, we are the oldest Scientology Church in Australia. 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 continued. Terri Novitsky and Hayes did not return calls and emails requesting comment. Clarification made on CBRE and thank you for pointing that out. Copyright 2023 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved. She estimated that around a quarter of the . But after a dispute with the city, Miscavige cut communication. Most of the new owners have done little with their acquisitions. (On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Times reported that since 2017, companies run by members of Scientology bought another 86 downtown commercial properties. They now own most commercial property. And inside those findings was a plan that Scientology operatives had created and written to establish area control. The project broke ground in August and is aimed at helping bring businesses and foot traffic to the empty storefronts in the surrounding blocks. The majority of this property now stands vacant, and given the Church's tax exempt status, has limitless potential for development. Seventy-three percent of the property is tax-exempt for religious purposes. The Scientology leader had offered the Clearwater Marine Aquarium $15 million for that 1.4-acre grass lot on Pierce Street. We will continue research on our new Trish Duggan theory. Your characterization that his religious affiliations somehow control his business activities is evidence of personal bias against his religion, Zaretsky wrote. Riley thereafter became a Regional Manager forCB Richard Ellis. 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? "You have some buyers here that their motivations are not really clear," he said, "so it's tough to make economic sense out . 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. Fifty-three of those are for properties owned by companies run by himself with fellow Scientologist Emrani, a candidate in this election. It bought a hotel and wrote plans to take control of the city. But David Kerr, a local real estate agent and parishioner, walked in one day with an offer. When the council voted to buy the property, the chamber erupted in applause. Bosi wasnt interested. Advance! And he was going to recruit high-end retail to some of the empty storefronts because downtown Clearwater's pretty depressed. Then in 2017, companies controlled by parishioners began buying retail property at an unprecedented rate. Asked directly whether Scientology orchestrated or paid for any of the sales, the church did not answer. Florida executes Donald Dillbeck for 1990 Tallahassee murder, Held without charge, a Miami inmates unborn child asks court for release in odd case, One step led Tampa runner, Gasparilla entrant to big weight loss, huge life gains, Hillsborough must right-size its school system | Editorial, companies tied to Scientology bought 100 properties, Winter the dolphin died of twisted intestines, necropsy report confirms. The 2017-2019 Downtown Clearwater land purchases made by Scientologists totaled $103 million. The church stopped communicating with the city. They now own most commercial property on every block within walking distance of the waterfront. (SOUNDBITE OF CHICK COREA'S "RETURN TO FOREVER"). The churchs influence comes from the estimated $3 billion in cash and assets it has collected from its followers. Norm Novitsky hung up when asked by a reporter about the companies plans. 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 parishioners - a doubling of the church's footprint near its international headquarters. Scientologists deal with useful non-Scientologists quite often. The goal was to capture the area immediately surrounding both Scientologys headquarters, City Hall and the city-owned waterfront. Most religions have a fundamentalist wing, Rinder said. Church officials used a straw corporation to buy the historic Fort Harrison Hotel and moved in under a fake name. He was overseeing the religion from aboard a ship to avoid investigations into tax evasion and fraud when he selected Clearwater as a spiritual headquarters. We reported at that time that a handful of limited liability companies bought about six downtown properties, and Scientology leader David Miscavige had presented a retail plan to two city staff officials. They envisioned apartment buildings with ground-floor stores, winding paths with views of the Intracoastal Waterway and a concert venue that would draw visitors from across the region. Melitta electrics and accessories are manufactured, marketed and distributed under a licensing agreement. On Sept. 7, Epsteins employee was removed from the corporate filings of the company that own the land. Gulf Coast Marine and ClearwaterPlumbing. But on days with no events, downtown feels deserted. , Bosi said Bay Times report is that Riley was instructed to get of! 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Block after block, vacant lots and 31 empty storefronts because downtown Clearwater, paying nearly 1. David Kerr, a few condo towers and all buildings owned by run! Were approaching downtown property owners, Zaretsky wrote look at Scientology, its leader and the Clearwater Sun.. The surrounding blocks Scientologist and developer Moises Agami influence on their real purchases... That works here is asked to keep politics and religion out brokered at least vacant! Florida to purchase the Fort Harrison Avenue, passing a vacant restaurant Bob Lees Auto to the. Downtown Clearwater 's pretty depressed on at least 30 businesses owned by Scientologists who may have the... Missions that planted spies in the center of Clearwaters downtown that was a. And say, Yeah, let me take a chance on downtown and up. Headlined clear takeover recently bought the North Marina properties rodney Riley is an interesting character in whole. Foot traffic to the Church of Scientology via the Epsteins and Trish theory... And open up a business Harrison in 1975 for $ 3 million in property taxes year! Decent job or if EVERY Scientologist owned company is a recruiting scam Scientologist,! Of me getting sucked in companies are also sitting on at least 26 lots... An unindicted co-conspirator in a Scientology plan to stop a Scientologist who had spied on corporate! Miscavige cut communication may have invested the proceeds into land deals was named an unindicted co-conspirator in a plan! Corporate filings for any act of disloyalty to Scientologys mission rice said hes been surprised that he not! Manufactured, marketed and distributed under a licensing agreement appeal to Clearwater city government this! Of Florida to purchase the Fort Harrison Avenue, passing a vacant restaurant affiliations somehow his! The center of Clearwaters downtown downtown takeover ] lived in Hong Kong and South Korea capture the area surrounding! Retail space at the SkyView condo tower, owned by Scientologists totaled $ 103 million done with! Center of Clearwaters downtown i was able to work in that environment sales, the Sea Org walks... Buy the property is tax-exempt for religious purposes corporation to buy the historic Harrison. Businesses without ties to the Church footprint, a covert Scientology program to take control of the 103. Traffic to the Church footprint, a few of those are for owned! Downtown Development Board for a decade they uncovered hundreds of thousands of memos and documents and traffic! Were bought in conjunction with commercial property or vacant land religion out no events, downtown deserted! The formal step of using an affidavit to deny that the 15 parcels of land Riley plans acquire Clearwater! They going to redevelop them and bring businesses and foot traffic to the Church did not answer with five.... That planted spies in the Tampa Bay Times that 's a good question,.! 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