Watchtower Divestment Continues: The Bossert on the Block
After putting six of its Brooklyn Heights properties on the market last spring, the Watchtower Group announced yesterday that it would also be selling one of its crown jewels in the area, the Bossert at 98 Montague Street. In its typical fashion, the religious organization didn’t set an asking price for the 14-story former hotel….
After putting six of its Brooklyn Heights properties on the market last spring, the Watchtower Group announced yesterday that it would also be selling one of its crown jewels in the area, the Bossert at 98 Montague Street. In its typical fashion, the religious organization didn’t set an asking price for the 14-story former hotel. Instead, it’s issuing a Request for Best Offer. Known as the “Waldorf Astoria of Brooklyn” in its day, the 200,000-square-foot building is currently divided into 224 apartments. Predictions for the sales price?
Good Lord! Watchtower Divesting Six Heights Props [Brownstoner] GMAP
In response to the guest who resided on Dean Street and commented on 1/29/08 @ 11:25 a.m., I realize this response may not make a bit of difference to you, but I’d like to clarify to those who may believe the ridiculously false statements you posted: I have been a Witness my entire life and NEVER ONCE have I prayed for someone to die. Rather, if you actually stopped to listen to why we’re “ringing doorbells”, you would have learned that it is to preach about God’s Kingdom, the theme of the entire Bible. It is certainly NOT to ask for donations, either. We are hoping to encourage people to stop living for themselves and to live for God, because you’d have to be blind to not see that “critical times hard to deal with” are most definitely here, as promised at 2 Timothy 3:16, 17. If we pray for people to die, why would we walk around in all kinds of weather ringing doorbells and preaching to people about the end of this system of things (not the end of the world)? Perhaps the reason the Witnesses no longer ring your doorbell is because we are not there to argue and our time can be better spent with someone who is willing to listen, instead of trying to talk to a closed mind. Furthermore, thanks for letting me know that we are supposed to congregate in upstate New York after the apocalypse- I must have missed that announcement.
I stayed in the Standish Arms for 2 weeks in 1994 while I was doing volunteer work, and made a point of touring as many of the other Watchtower buildings as I could. They take great care of ALL their buildings, and most of the rooms are are about the size of a hotel room. Regarding the Bossert, the inner and outer parts of the lobby looked like a palace, and the lounge on the to floor look like it had been very well preserved since the mid 20th century, with a fantastic view.
they are moving some to Walkill,NY and Paterson NY
AS for you guys just guessing, Witnesses don’t thithe at all. Plus they don’t hope and pray that people die. Just that they stop what they are doing like fornicating and drunkeness etc… They teach them waht the Bible really teaches and hope you make the right decision according to GOD. Also they have a fatory in Walkill,NY that they just did a big reno in last few years, plus they have educational facilities in Paterson NY. That’s why they are selling.
pretty sure his name isnt quest(Quest) but, rather guest(Guest) – the same name you & I both have signed in under. Read more carefully next time please. You just made yourself look foolish.
quest, for someone who says a lot, you are not saying anything, your comments are unfounded and without merit.
The Witnesses use the Bossert as an Inn for members visiting from out of town. It’s true that they have moved a lot of their operations upstate, most notably the printing and distribution of their publications (hence the sale of 360 Furman Street, in which paper was stored for the printing presses; it was also used as a distribution point). The plans are to build their vast 4-towered residence hall in DUMBO, and slowly but surely divest themselves of much of their Brooklyn Heights properties.
They are apparently holding onto the large properties they hold in the North Heights, including the Towers Hotel (which is undergoing facade repairs right now), the big plant on Columbia Heights (which was once the Squibb aspirin factory) and the various HQ buildings on Columbia Heights between Orange and Clark Streets.
The turn-of-the-20th-century office building at 136 Montague is in the process of being converted into condos. Perhaps the Bossert will follow.
I have lived in the Heights since 1968. I thank the gods that I live in this neighborhood, knowing that a row of townhouses will never be torn down and replaced by an 85 story condo tower (well, if you don’t count the row of stores on the north side of Remsen between Clinton and Court…).
Polemicist – care to put provide some factual data behind your claim – loan amounts, rates, LTVs, dates lenders made commitments, etc.? I am in the market for a real estate loan and would love to know who is lending right now. Banks just don’t have any more room for this type of debt on their books.
We got rid of the regular doorbell because we were getting rings either from kids playing pranks or friends of the Watchtower…And that was EARLY on weekend mornings!
So, now, if we’re expecting company, we use a remote doorbell button that is small and can put in place outside and removed OR we just ask visitors to call us from their cell phones when they are arriving.
The doorbell thing is wireless. It really made a difference. I used to run to the window upstairs and peak out to see the 5 or so people expecting to give me their literature on the weekend. Meanwhile, I was in no shape to answer the door…completely unpresentable like, probably, so many of us are that early on the weekend!
Isn’t their religizine titled “Awake”? I’ll say!