1. This is @TroMcManus, a reporter at the @TB_Times. I’ve spent the last 6 months investigating the purchases of nearly 100 properties in downtown Clearwater by companies tied to members of the Church of Scientology. projects.tampabay.com/projects/2019/…
@TroMcManus 2. I first started tracking downtown sales in early 2017, as Scientology leader David Miscavige was floating a plan to redevelop downtown. City leaders didn’t support it. I found an explosion in property purchases followed.
@TroMcManus 3. In total, 32 LLCs spent $103 million buying retail property in the core of downtown. About $99 million was paid in cash. 
@TroMcManus 4. I’ve spoken to the sellers of more than half the properties. Many told me they were approached by brokers with cash offers for land and buildings not listed for sale.
@TroMcManus 5. A little context: The flood took off in early 2017. The City Council was moving forward with the now $64 million Imagine Clearwater plan. The project aims to attract restaurants, bars, shops and culture to the depressed downtown. tampabay.com/news/clearwate…
@TroMcManus 6. We don’t know if the new buyers will bring businesses to help the city’s goal. Most parishioners involved declined to comment. Owners tied to Scientology are now sitting on at least 26 vacant lots and 31 empty storefronts and offices.
@TroMcManus 7. The church did not answer questions about whether it coordinated the purchases. It criticized the Times for having an agenda to put the religion in an unfavorable light.
@TroMcManus 8. The church has a rocky history in Clearwater. In its early years, it framed the mayor in a hit and run. Wrote plans to infiltrate local government and civic offices. The city tried and failed to pass an ordinance to regulate Scientology. tampabay.com/news/clearwate…
@TroMcManus 9. Former church executives say there’s little chance parishioners are assembling swaths of downtown land without Miscavige’s involvement. Scientology has immense control over parishioners' lives, far more than mainstream religions. Some countries consider it a cult.
@TroMcManus 10. “Any property owned by a Scientologist or linked to a Scientologist is owned by the church, because the church owns its parishioners,” said Tom De Vocht, a former executive in charge of real estate, who reported directly to Miscavige.
@TroMcManus 11. City officials can't predict the impact on Imagine Clearwater without knowing what the new owners plan to do with the properties. City Manager Bill Horne said church officials have said before they want a vibrant downtown but he's not sure "just what does that actually mean.”
@TroMcManus 12. But city officials are still committed to transforming the 22-acre public waterfront into a vibrant park and venue for the entire community — regardless of who buys private property around it.
@TroMcManus 13. I also worked closely with a team of data journalists and photographers to bring the story to life: @Eli_Mur, @humburg22, @elizhangnyc, @_neilbedi @TBTphotog @cliftimestweet. They made some stunning maps and graphics. Check it out: projects.tampabay.com/projects/2019/…
@TroMcManus @Eli_Mur @humburg22 @elizhangnyc @_neilbedi @TBTphotog @cliftimestweet 14. We then showed those maps to all five Clearwater City Council members in advance. They had … a lot to say. tampabay.com/news/clearwate…
@TroMcManus @Eli_Mur @humburg22 @elizhangnyc @_neilbedi @TBTphotog @cliftimestweet 15. In addition to the team mentioned above, @adamplayford edited and @tmac020 and @paulalexxxxxxxx designed for print. You can get their work on newsstands today. Here’s how the front page looks:
@TroMcManus @Eli_Mur @humburg22 @elizhangnyc @_neilbedi @TBTphotog @cliftimestweet @adamplayford @TMac020 @paulalexxxxxxxx 16. The entire effort took months and a huge effort by people across the newsroom. If you support investigative journalism, please consider subscribing to the Times. subscribe.tampabay.com
@TroMcManus @Eli_Mur @humburg22 @elizhangnyc @_neilbedi @TBTphotog @cliftimestweet @adamplayford @TMac020 @paulalexxxxxxxx 17. You can also make a tax-deductible donation to our new Tampa Bay Times Investigative Reporting fund. The money will help us pay to keep doing work like this. tampabay.com/investigativef…
