The Watchtower: a top landowner in Brooklyn, N.Y.
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Author: Moxie
Tags: jehovah's witnesses brooklyn, watchtower brooklyn heights., Watchtower real estate
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According to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (Jehovah’s Witnesses) could quite possibly the largest single landowner in Brooklyn, N.Y. except that is for the government.
The Watchtower’s huge real estate portfolio in Brooklyn consists of a huge chunk of DUMBO, the old Bossert Hotel on Montague Street, as well as waterfront property facing Pier 1 below the (Brooklyn) Heights. They also own buildings at Bridge Plaza.
The Watchtower Society, owns a staggering amount of Brooklyn real estate, and is certainly the largest single property owner in the Brooklyn Heights area.
But will the Watchtower remain in Brooklyn? With the economic downturn it seems that for the moment the Watchtower is staying put. But they are not expected to remain for long. Quite recently the organization has acquired 248 acres in Ramapo, N.Y., about 45 miles north of New York City. The $11.5 million site will reportedly someday house more than half of the organizations 1,500-person administrative staff. Additionally the Watchtower is in the process of buying another 253 acres near their Wallkill printing plant (a little over 40 miles north west of NYC). This will be the 4th major land acquisition in as many years.
The organization currently has eight other buildings (located in the Brooklyn Heights) on the market, including the Bossert. But according to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle it is very likely that when the economy and real estate market improves, the Witnesses will sell their DUMBO locations, as well as their buildings on Sands Street.
Another jewel in their real estate portfolio is their waterfront building near Old Fulton, which has been long coveted by residential developers. Area developers look to it as a future source of operating revenue for the community, perhaps as a conference center or hotel.
What is clear is that despite the massive property holdings in Brooklyn, they are nothing compared to the hundreds and hundreds of acres owned in more rural areas of NY and NJ.
According to an article in The Brooklyn Paper back in April of 2009, Richard Devine, a Watchtower spokesperson said regarding the Ramapo acreage, “We would like to build a live-work complex”.
Until now, the Watchtower’s residential and publishing facilities in Brooklyn have remained separate. Combining both facilities at one remote upstate site would create a huge, centralized religious compound.
It seems highly likely that the Watchtower Society will continue the trend of selling off its highly valuable Brooklyn real estate as the market improves, predictably moving their operations and residences to the more cost efficient properties upstate.
One can only imagine the equity the organization has built in those NY properties over the years, it seems the time has come to cash-in.
Photos of some Watchtower property in Brooklyn, N.Y.
DUMBO
Watchtower Tennis Courts at DUMBO
Watchtower owned, Bossert Hotel
Lobby inside the Bossert Hotel, owned by the Watchtower
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[...] Will Watchtower Society Sell Brooklyn?, 28Oct09, exjehovahswitness [...]
thank you for the nice information to the growth of the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses.Truly, Jehovah speeds up the work of preaching to the most distant part of the earth with the use of that facilities.The organization plays a vital rule in educating the public with use of watchtower and awake,a magazines most widely circulated in the history.I know from the heart that these facilities are used to vindicate Jehovah in teaching people the kingdom good news that this earth will be transformed into a paradise condition…I’ll be waiting other articles from yours.Thanks a lot..Jehovah bless you
They keep their followers poor and their leaders rich.
I imagine so. Somebody is “chillin”!! ha ha. Oh boy.
What Watchtower Society detractors fail to mention is the fact that these Brooklyn buildings were in a run-down condition when the Society bought them years ago. Through much volunteer labor (for the most part) and donations (from Jehovah’s Witnesses themselves - not from the general public) these properties are now considered prime real estate showpieces. The buildings Jehovah’s Witnesses use throughout the world are treated in a similar way, whether they are newly built, or are restorations such as the Stanley Theater in New Jersey. Venues that are periodically rented such as large arenas and stadiums for large assemblies are totally cleaned and sometimes even painted, free of charge. Jehovah’s Witnesses represent a God who is clean and holy and it is only proper that those who worship Him, and the buildings they use, reflect that. Another overlooked fact are the large number of visitors to Brooklyn from around the world, and also large numbers of attendees to the hundreds of assemblies throughout the country and the world, all contributing to the business economy. Last year many city officials publicly expressed their gratitude for the millions in revenue this brought to their cities.
Also, unlike other religions that pay salary and benefits, no one at the Society benefits materially aside from room and board and a very small stipend for personal necessities. There is no such “they” who supposedly are getting very “rich”. All monies go to furthering the world-wide work which consists of providing the means to carry out Jesus’ command to “Preach the good news of the Kingdom” to all the nations.
As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses I am very thankful that the Organization has provided all the proper spiritual food at the righ time. This is all possible all due to the Loving arrangement and provision from Jehovah God. Truly the spiritual food is Life saving information. Thank You to Jehovah God and to the society of everyone involved in making Jehovahs Word known through out the World. As Revelations 21:3,4 is very fitting because I look forward to the day that I will be united with all of my Brothers and Sister in the Organization when we can smile and be in Peace and know that truly the former things of this World have passed away.I also want to tell all my spiritual family World wide you are all in my prayers each day.I Love You with all my Heart!!!
According to the Bible teachings we are in the Last Days of this system of things. Soon we will be in Paradise. These beautiful buildings have provided timely information for us to find the truth and bring us to the light. The Governing Body has served us well here. We appreciate all the publications brought forth from this source. BUT….now is the time for change. Being one of the little sheep we have been advised not to amass wealth and riches, neither do we need to be educated. We put our trust in Jehovah. At this time the Governing Body has received through holy spirit the revelation that these buildings with all the adornment need to be sold and get rid of this Devil on our backs. The elders have realized the gold and silver are from pagan origin and needs to be done away with. To be accepted into Paradise true Christians need to scale back and not be materialistic….this brothers and sisters includes the riches seen in Brooklyn! Praise God Jehovah for this revelation by divine spirit…to shed this property and give money to the poor. God will be very pleased. I am so proud of the Society with immense riches giving away all the money they have to charity. When I read this in the New York Times I was started to cry….my religion will help many in need…true Christians indeed. Where are Russell and Rutherford to see what goodness has come. Praise Jah!!!!
Well the level of cult speak is sure getting deep in this comment area. Let me put my boots on before I address the insane comments made by the JW’s. Weslee, you sound like a parrot just repeating back the nonsense that has been sold to you as “truth”. Do you have any of your own opinions about the Watchtower? How do you feel about the Watchtower joining the U.N. after decades of demonizing the organization and accusing other religions who joined the U.N. of riding the “wild beast” of Revelation? I want your own opinion, don’t just quote some Watchtower publication. Do you think that decision by the Governing Body to join the U.N. indicates a lack of intelligence on the part of the leaders of the JW’s? Who came up with the brilliant idea, “Lets join the U.N”. Do any of the JW’s commenting here have any children or parents who they are shunning because they don’t want to be a part of your little doomsday cult? People say look at the “leaves” of the organization, well I have looked at it and what I see screams out loud “IT’S A CULT”. Why would an organization want to keep it’s members uneducated? Think about it. This same group tells it’s members to work for free as slave labor recruiting more people into the cult. Want to find out more dirty secrets the Watchtower Society is hiding from it’s cult members?
Jwfacts.com
Howcultswork.com
I left the watchtower organization years ago even though i had been a member since boyhood, pioneered, been an elder and been promised the Circuit.
Yes, many faithful workers were desperately poor during and after their full-time work. What a revelation to see the vast wealth of an uncaring organisation.
I could say much, much more, but I will refrain for now.
Doug Ashcroft
I don’t get why so many people come on this apostate website to claim they’re Jehovah’s witnesses, but I guess it’s a good thing.
If Jesus was to come in these Watchtower luxury buildings, he’d have the same reaction as in the temple with the money changers.
God doesn’t belong to them and their temples. They think they’re special, but you don’t need their books or their buildings to love God and Jesus.
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