In the 70s, Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in a Scientology plan to infiltrate the government. Graphics by ELI MURRAY About 72 percent of those properties are tax exempt for religious uses. GARCIA-NAVARRO: What is the view of the local community? This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. ', 'Ever since Ive been here, and ever since Ive dealt with Scientology officials, I have heard the leaders articulate that they want to see a vibrant downtown,,' Longtime City Manager Bill Horne, who wanted to turn downtown into a mall and entertainment center, said. Facebook. A scuffed copy of the Koran. 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. commercial meat slicer rental near me. AND it is NOT in a Flood Zone! Each had proposed major redevelopment projects, designed to lure new business into the empty storefronts that surround the city-owned waterfront and the churchs spiritual headquarters. City leaders spent tens of millions improving streets, subsidizing residential projects and hiring consultants. 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. It is headed by David Miscavige [1] . 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 gallery shows all 60 properties Scientology owns under its name in Pinellas county and the six retail properties the church acquired through limited liability companies in 2017. Norm Novitsky hung up when asked by a reporter about the companies plans. They spent $6.5 million to renovate the public Seminole Boat Ramp, a popular centerpiece seen as a sign of the citys commitment. But in the 70s, Andrus was named an unindicted co-conspirator in Scientologys government espionage scheme, which sent 11 Scientologists to federal prison. MCMANUS: It kind of started in early 2017. June 9, 2022. There comes a time when silence is betrayal. - Martin Luther King Jr. Communication is the universal solvent - L Ron Hubbard, When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon. Thomas Paine, "Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. The goal was to capture the area immediately surrounding both Scientologys headquarters, City Hall and the city-owned waterfront. Members have to answer to their ethics officer for any act of disloyalty to Scientologys mission. Source: Lived in Florida for 15 . City officials are suspicious that the church could be planning to do something with the land they now posses. Internal church documents detailed missions that planted spies in the state attorneys office, the Chamber of Commerce and the Clearwater Sun newspaper. It was owned by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. But its potential is still untapped, with prime vacant land overlooking Clearwater Harbor. Block after block, vacant lots sit untouched, and storefronts remain empty: A former jewelry store. 20, 2019. Although Zano is not well known in Clearwater, the companies spent $16.7 million acquiring 26 commercial properties 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. Masked protesters target Scientology's 'tactics', page 1 how to create a signature in outlook 365; hotels owned by scientologists in clearwater. 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. Following a fallout with the City Council, Scientologists started to buy downtown property - $103million worth to be exact - at an unprecedented rate and now the church and its members own185 properties that cover 101 acres of downtown. February 27, 2023 7:03 PM. It's Clearwater, FL. Bosi wasnt interested. GARCIA-NAVARRO: Explain to me why the paper has a Scientology reporter. He wanted the council to stop trying to buy a vacant lot on which the church was also bidding. The Times described sales as cash transactions when they were paid without a mortgage filed in public records. Times reporters built a database of hundreds of properties in the center of Clearwaters downtown. Hillsborough forms had errors, Church of Scientologys presence in Pinellas County, 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, Typhoon cancels Clearwaters sister city visit to Nagano. But they werent ready to sell the building, which they had owned for 27 years. And the properties cover about 100 acres. 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. Companies tied to the Church of Scientology paid millions in cash for 45 properties near downtown with no major plans in sight. We own a tremendous amount of material and so forth, and it keeps growing. Answer (1 of 12): Openly, they tend to congregate around the area of downtown where they work and own most of the real estate. The WORST care homes in England: Interactive map reveals the lowest-rated 2,530 residences - so is there one 'I can still hear their cruel laughter': Dr Alex George bravely reveals he suffered with an eating disorder Matt Hancock discussed 'deploying' new virus variant to 'frighten the pants off everyone' as former Health 'So many dead. His wife, parishioner and real estate agent, Terri Novitsky, represented the buyer in many of the deals, according to interviews with sellers. It has terrorized defectors with private investigators, smear campaigns and relentless litigation. Nearly two years after the properties were sold to a company run by two Scientologists, no redevelopment plans have been submitted. 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. (Everything owned by parishioner-run companies is still on the tax rolls. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard had written about doing away with governments and replacing them with a Scientology-run society. Of the 100 properties bought by parishioner-managed companies near the downtown waterfront from 2017 to 2019, 24 storefronts and buildings remain empty, including a former Walgreens, an old jewelry store and prominent buildings along the North Fort Harrison corridor. Both have been there for decades. 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. Of the $103 million spent, $99 million was paid in cash. Over the past two years, the properties surrounding the shop have been sold to Scientologist-controlled companies. A uniformed member of Scientologys full-time work force, the Sea Org, walks along N Fort Harrison Avenue, passing a vacant restaurant. When will the Beast from the East be at YOUR door? Review. Church of Scientology's presence in Pinellas County Since arriving in Clearwater in 1975, the Church of Scientology has bought 60 properties in Pinellas County under its name: 58 are in the. 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. More reaction: What Clearwaters City Council thinks about Scientologys downtown takeover, The full history: Scientologys 40 years of conflict with the City of Clearwater, recapped, Slideshow: See every building owned by the church, Scientologys 40 years of conflict with Clearwater, recapped, See a slideshow of all the churchs buildings. Scientologists Increase Their 'Mecca' on Florida Waterfront Real estate agent Brian Andrus controls seven properties bought around the citys public boat ramp. But on days with no events, downtown feels deserted. In January and February 2017, a handful of limited liability companies bought six prime downtown parcels. Shephard's Beach Resort - UPDATED 2023 Prices, Reviews & Photos By the Numbers: Scientologists in the Clearwater Community 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. Walking through Clearwater people will find vacant lots, an empty former jewelry store, an dead laundromat and an abandoned Walgreens. Scientology came to downtown Clearwater in 1975. Hes still holding out. Whos in the church of scientology? - sdnimik.bluejeanblues.net Real estate agent Daphna Fischler brokered at least 10 downtown sales on behalf of seven buyers. Scientologists in Clearwater. wikipedia.en/Scientology_in_the_United_States.md at main chinapedia The church requires followers to shun family members, friends and business contacts who defy it. 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