A Century Later, Watchtower Leaving Brooklyn
The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, which in the past couple of years has begun to unload its vast portfolio of buildings accumulated in Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo over the last century, is officially pulling up its roots and moving upstate. We have submitted a proposal to the Town of Warwick to build a complex…
The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, which in the past couple of years has begun to unload its vast portfolio of buildings accumulated in Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo over the last century, is officially pulling up its roots and moving upstate. We have submitted a proposal to the Town of Warwick to build a complex there that we’re calling the World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Richard Devine told the Brooklyn Eagle yesterday. The liquidation of the Brooklyn properties is not on a fast track at this point, though, because of the relatively weak real estate market. The Jehovahs Witnesses began selling back in 2007, managing to unload the Standish Arms before the market turned. A deal for the Bossert Hotel on Montague Street fell apart when RAL had to walk away from a signed contract in late 2008. In addition to its massive headquarters at 25 and 30 Columbia Heights (700,000 square feet combined), other properties in the area that still need to be sold but are not actively being market include 165, 161 and 183 Columbia Heights as well as 105 Willow Street and 34 Orange Street. We’re particularly curious about what this means for the two large parking lots in Dumbo.
After Century in Brooklyn, Watchtower Pulls Out of Heights [Brooklyn Eagle]
Jehovah’s Witnesses Plan Exodus from Brooklyn Heights [Gothamist]
Watchtower Officially Bugging Out of Brooklyn Heights [BHB]
Photo by madams girl
i have a friend who works and lives in the heights and he told me that the witnesses are quite friendly so it would be a shame if yuppie scum took their place.
F me seriously? Rob, play nice. I’m trying right now. Do a little research on how these folks got their properties in the Heights. I think my disgust with this cult is probably a little more grounded in reality than your pathological (and rather boring) hatred of all things yuppy.
And even if it isn’t, I’m not saying “f-you” to you.
quote:
Whatever happens, at least the buildings will now be on the tax rolls.
oh hmm.. that’s a good point actually
*rob*
true there will be a huge oversupply of luxury condos that will crater the dumbo mkt. caveat emptor.
Hey, just think of all the great condos that will be available. Maybe we’ll all have affordable condo with harbor/skyline views
Whatever happens, at least the buildings will now be on the tax rolls.
As a former JW, I’ve been to the property “upstate”. It’s quite rural (at least then). That’s where they grew most of the foods for the residents of the Watchtower. I used to volunteer for the canning of the harvests. Even in this market, financially this sale must be a real shot in their financial arm.
Where’s Pete? We were just speculating that this would happen a couple of weeks ago.
good question ‘stoner.
when i looked at 70 washington apt being sold by the developer, they were willing to *guarantee* my purchase price for some period of time against a view obstructing bldg going up.
ultimately there will be a view obstructing beast going up on that parking lot.
now it seems inevitable.
may take ten years, but the nice views of the brooklyn bridge are at risk (as are the premium prices of those apts)
quote:
“Good riddance.”
F-U. seriously. while i am not a religious person at all, id rather have them occupy those buildings than the transplant yuppie trash that will most likely occupy these buildings once they are converted to “luxury” condoms.
*rob*