It is all so convenient for Rodney that it appears to be scripted. Scientology came to downtown Clearwater in 1975. And $99 million of the $103 million in real-estate deals over the past three years were in cash. Rodney Riley is the CEO of RSR Capital Advisors in Clearwater, Florida. And yes, everyone that works here is asked to keep politics and religion out . Osman Ozsan has been a Scientologist since the 1990s. Over the past two years, the properties surrounding the shop have been sold to Scientologist-controlled companies. Based upon on our new hypothesis that Trish Duggan may be the financier of the land purchases, the logic of bringing in non-Scientologist Rod Riley to act as the frontman makes sense as it can serve to counter any accusation that Scientology is taking over Clearwater. Some landlords tied to Scientology have helped bring life to portions of downtown. There's parishioners that come here from all over the world to take courses in high level auditing that's not offered anywhere else. 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. An elevated walkway connects the building to the Fort Harrison Hotel, the churchs first purchase in the city in 1975. City officials are trying to make the area a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. The city wants to turn downtown into a regional destination for food, drink and entertainment. Many of the properties werent on the market when the deals were made. Scientology spokesman Ben Shaw said in a statement that the church is not involved with the acquisitions. Real estate agent Daphna Fischler, a Scientologist, called and showed up to the shop a handful of times in mid-2018. 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. If our work stats did not improve day to day . ), [ Slideshow: See every building owned by the church ], In the 90s, a Scientology magazine listed the churchs goals for 2000. In North America, Melitta is the leading brand of coffee filters. I would ask that you clarify the reference to CBRE. Times investigative reporters pored over 1,000 deeds and business records, and interviewed more than 90 people, to connect the dots from the church buying its first hotel in the area in 1975, to Scientologists and their businesses now owning 185 properties covering 101 acres in the heart of downtown Clearwater which is also Scientologys headquarters, and home to its flag campus, to which Scientologists across the globe make pilgrimages. It appears that Project Normandy is still operational. The Tampa Bay Times discovered them by reviewing more than 1,000 deeds and business records, then interviewed more than 90 people to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding the transactions. Over half are owned or operated by Scientologists. This is a story for another time. She estimated that around a quarter of the . Norm Novitsky hung up when asked by a reporter about the companies plans. 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. The majority of this property now stands vacant, and given the Church's tax exempt status, has limitless potential for development. The Church of Scientology, its members and companies controlled by its members have spent $103 million over the past three years buying retail property in downtown Clearwater, Fla., according to the Tampa Bay Times. The family of Moises Agami, a developer whose companies bought 20 storefronts and a parking lot last year, has donated at least $10 million. GARCIA-NAVARRO: What do you mean billion year contracts? A newspaper report says the Church of Scientology and companies run by its members spent more than $100 million over the past three years buying up huge sections of downtown Clearwater. The lack of action from Scientology-tied buyers has precedent. For the first time, a majority of the boards members will be Scientologists. After his stint at CBRE, Riley worked for Caliber Wells in Scottsdale, Arizona and then left the firm. Thats not happening with almost any of these properties., [ More reaction: What Clearwaters City Council thinks about Scientologys downtown takeover ]. February 27, 2023 endeavor air pilot contract No Comments . Scientologys survival depends on the preservation of its headquarters in Clearwater. Melitta coffee filters are manufactured in Clearwater, Florida. After the Times reported the purchases, Miscavige acknowledged the properties were bought for a second revitalization strategy one devised by the church. On Sept. 7, Epsteins employee was removed from the corporate filings of the company that own the land. Many of the properties werent on the market. GARCIA-NAVARRO: So tell me about these land purchases. An empty Walgreens. Although Zano is not well known in Clearwater, the companies spent $16.7 million acquiring 26 commercial properties downtown. Companies controlled by Hayes have bought about half the property on Rices block and nearly the entire block directly south. Can you give me a sense of the scale and how they have made this happen with the relatively little fanfare over the years? GARCIA-NAVARRO: That's Tracey McManus, who reports on Scientology for the Tampa Bay Times, talking about the church's increased real estate footprint in Clearwater, Fla. The US average revenue of a car dealership is $38.3 million. Another Scientologist, Rick Argall, owned a building on downtowns Garden Avenue that housed six Scientologist-run businesses, including a chiropractic clinic he operated with a fellow church member. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with reporter Tracey McManus. We will continue research on our new Trish Duggan theory. 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. The churchs campus grew slowly over decades. The Times report describes spaces such as a former jewelry store, an empty Walgreens and a deserted laundromat sitting empty and unused. A few weeks later, John Yarbrough sold the building where he had run his electrical services business for 22 years. We are an equal opportunity employer and fully EEOC compliant. The hotel has 11 stories and features 220 rooms, three restaurants, a swimming pool and a . 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. Clearwater A newspaper report says the Church of Scientology and companies run by its members spent more than $100 million over the past three years buying up huge sections of downtown. Of the $103 million spent, $99 million was paid in cash. In a letter, the church said the Times is misinterpreting Scientology policy and that other religions also practice shunning. In January and February 2017, as the council was preparing to approve the consultants concept, a handful of companies bought six commercial properties downtown. Mayor George Cretekos listens at a City Council meeting in April 2017 as residents pushed the council to purchase a vacant lot that Scientology also wanted. The Times used the date that transactions were recorded in Clerk of Courts official record as the date of sale. Some of the parishioners have a history of working on Scientologys behalf. Miscavige cut off communication with the city. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email along with 7129 other subscribers. So we kept our eye on the downtown purchases. There are 22 Church of Scientology facilities in downtown Clearwater. But Scientologist-controlled companies are also sitting on at least 26 vacant lots and 31 empty storefronts and offices. CEO Approval. The impact is clearest in the heart of downtown. Cazares responds with an $8 million libel suit. MCMANUS: It kind of started in early 2017. 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. TRACEY MCMANUS: Hi, Lulu. The church requires followers to shun family members, friends and business contacts who defy it. MCMANUS: The reason Scientology has such an outsized influence is because of the cash and assets it has, which is estimated to be $3 billion. Then the council interfered with a land deal that Scientology demanded for its plan. Visitors are expected to stay in Scientologys hotels and eat at private church restaurants. 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. 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. The Times counted each parcel that was assigned a value by the property appraiser as a single property with five exceptions. And inside those findings was a plan that Scientology operatives had created and written to establish area control. The analysis did not include residential parcels except in cases where they were bought in conjunction with commercial property or vacant land. But the couple isnt ready to let go. In January and February 2017, a handful of limited liability companies bought six prime downtown parcels. DEUTERIUM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED Copyright 2023 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved. Accuracy and availability may vary. The Church of Scientology has done many things at a remove or by a ruse, feint, or stratagem. Gentile also purchased several Clearwater companies owned by Scientologists who may have invested the proceeds into land deals. She said, Well, well have to invite you down for dinner, he recalled. They haven't submitted redevelopment plans. Holding and president of Graymoss, Inc. [27] The architectural firm HOK was hired to deliver the project. They were very secretive, he said. (CBRE) in April 2016. 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. Andrus, the former church operative, has broken ground on a condo tower near the citys boat ramp and filed plans for another housing complex nearby. businesses owned by scientologists. When the city was considering buying the aquariums lot, Miscavige threatened to stop communicating until the 2020 election, when term limits would force most of the council out of office. Write by: . 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. Its members bought property on surrounding blocks. It set aside $10 million for secret real estate purchases in Clearwater. A sign in front of the business says, "Notice: This is one of the only spas in downtown Clearwater not owned by a Scientologist .". 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? A deserted coin laundry. 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. Shahab and Catherine Emrani who manage companies that purchased four commercial buildings, retail space in a condo and vacant land have given at least $1.75 million to the church. Lares declined again when Fischler met him at a restaurant in Pinellas Park for lunch, and once more when she tried in May. 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. Whats more, the Times found a Scientology magazine from the 1990s that listed goals for the new millennium. This month, Shahab Emrani was elected to the Downtown Development Board, which helps promote downtown. 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. Thats not happening with almost any of these properties., But Tal Ezra, a Scientologist who recently bought four parcels of land in downtown Clearwater, told the Times that he has plans for an office space and a retail shop. I think it throws a stake in it when one party owns 50 percent or so. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. 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/ 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. And the tactics they were using to establish area control included infiltration, spying, smearing enemies. 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. Rodney Riley is an interesting character in this whole thing. About 72 percent of those properties are tax exempt for religious uses. Mayor Jane Castors partner vowed not to lobby the city. Wayne E. Lee ran his Auto Parts Distributors business on Park Street since 1982. Thank you for having us. The 1.4 acre lot was across the street from City Hall and adjacent to a 13-story Scientology religious retreat. It also has to be someone who trusts the Epsteins enough to invest with them. Howd that go? Coincident with this Riley-registered RSR Capital Advisors as an LLC in Florida on March 21, 2022. The Church is the largest property taxpayer in downtown Clearwater, paying nearly $1 million in property taxes last year. The 2017-2019 Downtown Clearwater land purchases made by Scientologists totaled $103 million. Members have to answer to their ethics officer for any act of disloyalty to Scientologys mission. He is linked to the Church of Scientology via the Epsteins and Trish Duggan. When the council voted to buy the property, the chamber erupted in applause. Bosi wasnt interested. A uniformed member of Scientologys full-time work force, the Sea Org, walks along N Fort Harrison Avenue, passing a vacant restaurant. Good luck on that. The inn had stood empty since being damaged in a 1989 arson fire and the Church of Scientology acquired the land in 1991 after it had been purchased by local property developer Terence J. McCarthy, the owner of T.J.M. 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. During that period, downtown purchases by limited liability companies managed by members of Scientology accelerated. This is a story for another time. Subscribe to our free Stephinitely newsletter. Internal church documents detailed missions that planted spies in the state attorneys office, the Chamber of Commerce and the Clearwater Sun newspaper. Lee sold when Fischler upped her offer to $410,000 cash for the building valued at $109,000 by the property appraiser. They have completed courses and spiritual counseling that can cost tens of thousands of dollars. It is headed by David Miscavige [1] .
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