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Argall left the church and was forced to abandon his business of more than 20 years. Flag is supposed to be an insulated oasis. AND it is NOT in a Flood Zone! Of the $103 million spent, $99 million was paid in cash. Take away the church footprint, a few condo towers and all buildings owned by the government. We've got 2511 hotels to choose from within 5 miles of Church of Scientology. Shephard's Beach Resort - UPDATED 2023 Prices, Reviews & Photos Welcome. Critics of the church say that the Scientology bought the downtown properties to keep the public at bay. A Guide to Scientology's Most Ostentatious Real Estate - Gizmodo Its like they are trying to control the whole thing.. Scientologist Stu Sjouwerman Plans a $100 Million NASDAQ IPO for His Letsgetstarted. Rice said hes been surprised that he has not been approached by brokers trying to buy his 10,000-square-foot building. Main Menu '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. She said, Well, well have to invite you down for dinner, he recalled. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. They didnt say what they were going to do with them, and I never asked, said Chesney, who works as the citys marine and aviation department director. 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. Scientology hasn't answered directly why they've taken over the Clearwater area, but skeptics say it's to keep the public away. In a letter, the church said the Times is misinterpreting Scientology policy and that other religions also practice shunning. Nearly all of the properties were bought through limited liability companies, which are required to disclose their operators but not their owners. Instead, the aquarium sold it to the city in April 2017 for a lot less $4.25 million. We profile several of them here. 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. While theres no law against hanging onto property, developers typically buy land, build on it and sell it for profit. It has terrorized defectors with private investigators, smear campaigns and relentless litigation. Limited liability companies managed by Hayes, the attorney whos done work on behalf of the church, bought almost the entire square block directly east of the North Ward school. 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. 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. 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. The analysis considered property within the general boundaries of Cedar Street to the north, Missouri Avenue to the east, Chestnut Street to the south and the Intracoastal Waterway to the west. But after a dispute with the city, Miscavige cut communication. The Church didn't comment on whether Scientology orchestrated or paid for any of the real estate sales. and last updated 7:53 PM, Oct 21, 2019. The new owners also are sitting on about 30 undeveloped lots. The impact is clearest in the heart of downtown. They were very secretive, he said. Thank you for having us. They cant even fix their own families. Paper: Scientologists buy dozens of properties in Clearwater - WPTV Toni Says: What is Medicares creditable prescription drug coverage? A lot of them are vacant lots, vacant buildings, empty storefronts. This Gulfport 14-year-old, The death of Dilbert and the art vs. the artist | Letters. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Hes starting to assemble properties, Allbritton said. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Just out of curiosity, when you say the tactics that they used in the '70s, what were those? In January and February 2017, a handful of limited liability companies bought six prime downtown parcels. (Everything owned by parishioner-run companies is still on the tax rolls. The city and the church fought in court for years. The Tampa Bay Times reports that recent purchases doubled the combined real estate footprint of the church and its followers. It is now 6PM. It was owned by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Clearwater is the permanent home to more than 10,000 Scientology parishioners. Trending; . Thomas Paine, Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. - Martin Luther King, The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. - Martin Luther King. But its potential is still untapped, with prime vacant land overlooking Clearwater Harbor. the Church of Scientology and Clearwater is incapable of being an honest hard-working partner with the city of Clearwater in revitalizing this town it's not possible because it's against their fundamental best interests this is the reason all of the Scientologists in the in Clearwater were instructed by the Office of Special Affairs to . Scientology came to downtown Clearwater in 1975. Just how many is tough to fact-check due to the church's many tenuously connected affiliates . GitHub export from English Wikipedia. But the aquarium rejected his bid in order to sell it to the city for $4.25 million. They paid $26 million. 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. I really appreciate you all giving up your time to, Mike was probably getting a slew of YSCOHB texts from DM. All five City Council members said they doubted the rash of purchases were unrelated. Just make more income with Scientology. [quote] Florida Gov. 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. Although I find Clearwater to be fairly safe, it has more crime than Naples. Scientologists buy dozens of properties in Clearwater, newspaper 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. in positive and negative effects of coca cola. Discover a selection of more than 10,000 vacation rentals near Church of Scientology, Clearwater that are perfect for your trip. The gallery does not include properties bought by companies run by church members. Did you check your W-2? That's the findings of a story in the Tampa Bay Times that's headlined clear takeover. We don't know if they're just going to continue to squat on them - because they haven't done anything yet. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Did you do your taxes? You have some buyers here that their motivations are not really clear, he said, so its tough to make economic sense out of it.. Miscaviges offer to revitalize downtown hinged on the city ending its attempt to buy one vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. In 1975, Scientology creator L. Ron Hubbard bought a historic hotel in downtown Clearwater. But Scientologist-controlled companies are also sitting on at least 26 vacant lots and 31 empty storefronts and offices. Clarion Inn & Suites Central Clearwater Beach has an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, a restaurant and bar in Clearwater. 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. or "selling postcards" or borrowing money. Members have to answer to their ethics officer for any act of disloyalty to Scientologys mission. Then the council interfered with a land deal that Scientology demanded for its plan. 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 . ! MCMANUS: Brokers representing these companies were approaching downtown property owners. I agree, the blog has a limited purpose, Super excellent, really great chemistry, so enjoyable to watch. And inside those findings was a plan that Scientology operatives had created and written to establish area control. Tom Cruise, a devout follower of Scientology, has been effectively 'homeless' since he put his homes in California and New York on the marketearning GBP 41.5million ($55 million) in the process. The Church is the largest property taxpayer in downtown Clearwater, paying nearly $1 million in property taxes last year. After a workout in our fitness center, begin your morning with our free hot breakfast, free hot coffee and free weekday newspaper in our . church of 8 wheels closing; forest fair village shopping mall; 10Jun. A uniformed member of Scientologys full-time work force, the Sea Org, walks along N Fort Harrison Avenue, passing a vacant restaurant. MCMANUS: Well, our reporting shows that Scientology has a big interest in preserving its downtown campus. hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater. Run away!!! I thought this person was a cult member immediately . 1,915 reviews. All 45 North Marina properties were purchased by companies managed or operated by two longtime members of Scientology: Steven Hayes, an attorney who has done legal work on behalf of church related organizations for more than two decades, and Norm Novitsky, a businessperson who has donated at least $5 million to Scientology.