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According to Brooklyn Heights Blog, the Brooklyn Eagle reported yesterday that the Jehovah’s Witnesses are preparing to sell the 80,000-square-foot Columbia Heights building known as the Standish Arms Hotel. For the last two decades, the Watchtower group has used the limestone and brick structure to house its flock. The decision is reportedly part of a larger reorganization of the property-rich organization’s holdings. All we know is these will be some expensive apartments when a developer’s done with them. How do neighbors feel about the impending change in ownership?
Watchtower to Sell Standish Arms [Brooklyn Heights Blog] GMAP


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  1. Instead of answering questions by what you have heard from others or from conclusions you think up yourself, just get ahold of the Watchtower Society or ask the next one of Jehovah’s Witnesses you may meet. You will be surprised how different the truth can be.

  2. speaking strictly as a 3rd generation southern, uneducated/uncouth witness, and having visited our headquarters on numerous occasions, and having made voluntary contributions to our worldwide work for 55 years, I feel compelled to say:
    most of you folks must be getting your information in the same place you get your spiritual instruction.

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  4. I think their plan is to sell all their Heights properties but need to do it a few blgs at a time, otherwise they’d flood the market. They’ve sold the Furman bldg (soon to be One Brooklyn Bridge..), and last year a number of smaller buildings. This year it’s this and hopefullly next year the Bossert.

    The plans for their 4 tall bldgs in DUMBO are a go. And they’ve moved much of their printing operations upstate, as mentioned

  5. Personally, I think the Witnesses have been good residents of the Heights — they certainly take immaculate care of some huge wonderful old buildings (The Bossert on Montague and Hicks and the between Hicks and Willow and Clark and Pineapple) but I also think they’ve held back the retail scene on Montague.

    Because of the facilities in their buildings they don’t really use the gyms, supermarkets, restaurants, daycare centers… or probably the clothing stores, bookstores, or movie theaters.

    Having their buildings sold and turned into more mainstream residential (such as condos) will add that many more residents to the day-to-day mix to support the varied businesses we want on Montague St.

    With that in mind, I hope they sell the Bossert ASAP.

  6. “the members that live in their facilites and work elsewhere have to turn over their entire paychecks to the church and are given a stipend in return.”

    They don’t earn paychecks but they do receive a stipend, free food, and housing.

  7. The only Witness I ever knew personally worked with me and lived in their housing in BH. She became pregnant and left. I guess, based on what’s posted here that she was in a lot of trouble. I don’t think she was married.

  8. The Bossert is a beautiful, ex-hotel that they own on Montague that they own, perfect for condo’ing – heard that that was in the works. They also own a property/residence (former hotel?) on Willow and a facility on Clark Street.

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