Though the conglomerate owns buildings around the world, the main concentrations of properties are in Los Angeles, California and Clearwater, Florida.
[4] Former Scientology official Tom De Vocht suggested COS was creating a buffer around its core properties to keep the public away.
Other issues brought up about the Church of Scientology's purchase of so many properties is that many of the buildings are exempt from paying property taxes, and there are claims that "the historic-building program is simply part of a public relations and marketing campaign designed to bolster the church's ranks of celebrity adherents and distract from the group's controversies".
[1] Scientology leader David Miscavige called for "massive expansion" following 9/11, leading to the purchase of even more buildings along with lucrative fundraising.
This led to the Ideal Org project in 2003, a building purchase-and-renovation plan which has been called "a real estate scam", a "money-making scheme", and "Scientology's principle cash cow".