But far more non-Scientologists are moving out. I think it throws a stake in it when one party owns 50 percent or so. Not so shipshape! I'm glad you brought this up! in positive and negative effects of coca cola. A broker who was a Scientologist approached a downtown property owner. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. MCMANUS: Scientology arrived in downtown Clearwater in 1975. 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. On Sept. 7, Epsteins employee was removed from the corporate filings of the company that own the land. The church requires followers to shun family members, friends and business contacts who defy it. Eventually, open tensions faded. The Church's celebrity members Tom Cruise and John Travolta are known to have estates near Clearwater as well. But even when the church isnt in control, its presence can deter development. MCMANUS: Right - because the city officials have said that there's only so many factors they control. ', Freedom Magazine is a Scientology produced publication. Visit hotel website. ), Clear Takeover: How Scientology doubled its downtown Clearwater footprint in 3 years, Scientologys 40 years of conflict with Clearwater, recapped, What Clearwaters City Council thinks about Scientologys downtown takeover. Has the Church of Scientology ever killed anyone? After FBI raids uncovered the infiltrations, city officials launched their own investigations. AND it is NOT in a Flood Zone! ARC Straightwire (ARC stands for affinity-reality-communication) ARC Fil Direct. In six cases, buyers made four times the propertys value deemed by the county property appraiser. When will the Beast from the East be at YOUR door? Project Normandy was described in one of hundreds of internal memos Scientology officials exchanged about their plans to infiltrate and control Clearwater. Fischler approached Bosi again in September. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Explain to me why the paper has a Scientology reporter. 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. Trish Duggan and the $114 Million in Clearwater Real Estate Purchases Never seen anything like it': Medics and care workers hits back at Matt Hancock by revealing Rishi Sunak told Matt Hancock that Dominic Cummings' time in Downing Street was 'a nightmare', new WhatsApp Madonna's Skid Row brother: For years the superstar, 64, was accused of shunning him. There are 22 Church of Scientology facilities in downtown Clearwater. Born in Germany, he began his career at the Hotel Restaurant Melber, followed by the Four Seasons in Munich and the Hotel Kempinski in Berlin. Then he would try again, with new council members. 307 S Myrtle Ave Frnt, Clearwater, FL 33756-5524 +1 727-446-3354 Website Menu. I thought this person was a cult member immediately . 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. They came in under a fake name to buy the Fort Harrison Hotel, a historic hotel right in the center of downtown. High-ranking defectors provide an unprecedented inside look at Scientology, its leader and the Lisa McPherson case. 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. Show more. Nearly two years after the properties were sold to a company run by two Scientologists, no redevelopment plans have been submitted. So we kept our eye on the downtown purchases. He has not been arrested by the FBI; fined $10 million by the FTC for running a roach motel; is not facing criminal rape charges; is not dealing with class action lawsuits; and is not awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to felony insurance fraud. Fischler did not respond to phone messages, a certified letter or a note left at her condo. City officials are trying to make the area a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. It's GRAYGATE! Assistant City Manager Michael Delk said the citys priority is turning the spectacular land it owns into a community destination, no matter who owns the private property around it. This Gulfport 14-year-old, The death of Dilbert and the art vs. the artist | Letters. I think it's comparable to say it's kind of, like, if there were to be a Vatican reporter in Vatican City. Visitors walk through downtown on a Friday. Andrus did not respond to an email, phone message, a note left at his office or a certified letter. The Scientology leader had offered the Clearwater Marine Aquarium $15 million for that 1.4-acre grass lot on Pierce Street. Then in 2017, companies controlled by parishioners began buying retail property at an unprecedented rate. Although I find Clearwater to be fairly safe, it has more crime than Naples. About 72 percent of those properties are tax exempt for religious uses. Dalai Lama. GARCIA-NAVARRO: What do you mean billion year contracts? When you stay with us at the Sleep Inn Clearwater-St Petersburg hotel, you can expect stylish accommodations for an affordable rate. Report: Scientologists Spend $103 Million on Property in - Insider The Tampa Bay Times reported that the church, including members and employees, now own 185 properties that encompass more than 101 acres in downtown Clearwater, located west of Tampa and sitting. Some have donated millions to the church. The Church is the largest property taxpayer in downtown Clearwater, paying nearly $1 million in property taxes last year. Mike Rinder, who led Scientologys intelligence arm before defecting in 2007, said any property owned by a parishioner is in the churchs control. Typically, when people buy commercial real estate, they move forward with construction or redevelopment. 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. A uniformed member of Scientologys full-time work force, the Sea Org, walks along N Fort Harrison Avenue, passing a vacant restaurant. by . 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.. Miscaviges offer to revitalize downtown hinged on the city ending its attempt to buy one vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater hotels owned by 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? Did you do your taxes? They haven't submitted redevelopment plans. The acquisitions mirror the pattern that unfolded downtown between 2017 and 2019, when companies tied to Scientology bought 100 properties within walking distance of the waterfront and the churchs international spiritual headquarters, then left many of those buildings vacant and lots undeveloped. Scientology leader David Miscavige had his own redevelopment plan. Half the properties were bought since January 2017. The Resort at Longboat Key Club . 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. 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. 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. They have control over what businesses, if any, come in. But the couple isnt ready to let go. Searcy felt like hed created a canvas for a dream hotel, condo and retail project: near the bridge to Clearwater Beach, no height restrictions, all under $5 million. All five City Council members said they doubted the rash of purchases were unrelated. wikipedia.en/Scientology_in_the_United_States.md at main chinapedia The project broke ground in August and is aimed at helping bring businesses and foot traffic to the empty storefronts in the surrounding blocks. In 1975, Scientology creator L. Ron Hubbard bought a historic hotel in downtown Clearwater. Hes starting to assemble properties, Allbritton said. They started hosting concerts on the waterfront that now draw thousands. If people all over the world would do this, it would change the earth." This makes no sense, except of course to a bigot.. 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. TRACEY MCMANUS: Hi, Lulu. The church stopped communicating with the city. MGE management group.Scientology based management for - reddit But Scientologist-controlled companies are also sitting on at least 26 vacant lots and 31 empty storefronts and offices. 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. 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. Real estate agent David Kerr represented a buyer that paid more than three times what a property was valued by the county property appraiser. Scientologist Stu Sjouwerman Plans a $100 Million NASDAQ IPO for His The most widely publicized death of one of the organization's members was that of 36-year-old Lisa McPherson while in the care of Scientologists at the Scientology-owned Fort Harrison Hotel, in Clearwater, Florida, in 1995.. What religion is Scientology similar to? Today, 10 years later, the economic influence of Scientologists in the community is commensurately higher. Theres no such thing in Scientology. A few months after Yarbrough relocated, a new electrical company moved into his old building. Paid in cash. Best Clearwater hotels Most recommended Clearwater hotels Clearwater Inn $27+ Free Wi-Fi Sonesta Simply Suites Clearwater 8.1 Very good $157+ Parking Free Wi-Fi Pool Pet friendly Courtyard St. Petersburg Clearwater 8.9 Very good $340+ Parking Airport shuttle Free Wi-Fi Pool Extended Stay America Suites - St Petersburg - Clearwater - Executive Dr We profile several of them here. However, it hasnt always been clear to me as to just what does that actually mean.. hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater 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.'. Scientologists Increase Their 'Mecca' on Florida Waterfront It's not clear how many followers are based in Clearwater. By then, the churchs intelligence unit was already deploying an elaborate scheme to establish area control in the city.