Semonian would only say, “The buyer has not authorized us to release that information.”
Semonian is a zit on the ass of a horse. The figure is $50 million, you turd-plop!
Standish Arms Sold by WTS, 5 other buildings on the market
by blondie 49 Replies latest jw friends
-
Nathan Natas
-
LennyinBluemont
Thanks so much, Blondie and Betterdaze, for the info and the links. Now we know that the company that made the $50 Million purchase from the WT, just happens to have as it's founder a JW! Small world! AND, they are listed as a major contributor to the KNOCKING "documentary", a pro-JW propoganda piece. Now why would a real-estate development company capable of making a $50 Million purchase have an interest in providing financing for a pro-JW movie? Something definitely smells funny here. Jourles, you were over a year ahead of your time! I had some exposure to the Zarembas (another major contributor to KNOCKING). Does anyone know if Walter Zaremba was called "Butch"?
Given the fact that the WT is able to cash in just one single building for $50 Million (or put another way, .05 Billion), can you begin to imagine, with all the real estate holdings, buildings, cash and investments, what they might possibly be worth? By the way, who holds title to assembly halls? Their net worth is certainly in the billions, if not the tens of billions.
Given that, wouldn't it have been nice, during the tsunami devastation or Katrina, to have read in the WT, that the WTB&TS had donated $4 Million to the Red Cross to benefit victims of those disasters on behalf of its members? They probably would hardly have missed it. How Christian is it to be so sickeningly wealthy, and not reach out to your fellow humans in crisis? For once, they would have actually gotten some good PR. But they can't do that, because then the R&F would want to follow their lead and give their money to the Red Cross too, and that means less for the WT. For starters, they should all be disfellowshipped for greed. They have certainly qualified on a level no single JW could ever do, even in their dreams.
I hope there are more revelations on this real estate transaction that is starting to smell a little like that fish that should have been cooked last night.
-
Larry
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12062007/news/regionalnews/jehovah_hits_rental_height_839637.htm
'JEHOVAH' HITS RENTAL HEIGHT$
By RICH CALDER
December 6, 2007 -- A real-estate giant is planning to convert a famous Brooklyn Heights hotel last used by the Jehovah Witnesses into about 100 rental apartments, The Post has learned.
Boston-based Taurus Investment Holdings recently purchased the 12-story Standish Arms Hotel building at 169 Columbia Heights for $50 million from Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.
"This is an incredible property in a great neighborhood with unparalleled views of the New York skyline," said Patrick McGrath, a managing partner with Taurus' New York office.
Rents for two-bedroom apartments will start at $3,600, one-bedrooms will go for $2,800, and studios will cost $2,000. McGrath said Taurus is marketing the rentals toward "young professionals and couples with families."
Built in 1903, the 74,393- square-foot building currently contains 128 apartments most recently used as living quarters for the Witnesses. The society bought the site in 1988.
Watchtower earlier this year put six of its 18 Heights properties on the market.
----------------------------
N.Y. Times
As a Big Landowner Plans to Sell, Mouths Begin to Water
By JAKE MOONEY
Published: May 6, 2007
In the lobbies of some of the buildings near the Brooklyn waterfront owned by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, visitors can pick up plastic-wrapped packets of postcards depicting the organization’s various properties. On one, an aerial view of Brooklyn Heights, it seems as if nearly every third building is a Watchtower dormitory.
Since 1909, the neighborhood has been home to Brooklyn Bethel, as the organization, whose members are known as Jehovah’s Witnesses, calls its world headquarters. Other postcards in the packet, though, tell a story of change: They show neatly dressed volunteers at work in a sprawling new complex north of the city in Wallkill, N.Y., where the Witnesses moved their Bible- and magazine-printing operations in 2004.
Now, the residential buildings are beginning to go, too: The Witnesses plan to sell six of their Brooklyn Heights residences, including the venerable 12-story Standish Arms Hotel building, as part of what they are calling an organizational consolidation. With the printing presses gone and the former warehouse and shipping facility at 360 Furman Street sold, Witnesses spokesmen said, the organization needs less space for members to live.
Besides the Standish Arms, at 169 Columbia Heights, between Clark and Pierrepont Streets, the buildings for sale include four-story and seven-story apartment buildings on the same street, and three 19th-century houses nearby.
The offerings, which were reported in The Brooklyn Eagle, have Brooklyn Heights residents buzzing about the potential for the new properties hitting the real estate market. Residents are also speculating about the future of the former Bossert and Leverich Towers Hotels, two other meticulously restored buildings the organization owns in the neighborhood.
"When people hear that they’re selling the Standish Hotel, they start drooling about the Bossert," Robert Perris, district manager of Brooklyn Community Board 2, said of the opulent tower at Montague and Hicks Streets, where the Brooklyn Dodgers celebrated their victory in the 1955 World Series. "The speculation runs rampant."
According to Richard Devine, a Watchtower spokesman, the organization is not working with an outside real estate agent and has no set asking prices, but it will evaluate offers as they come in, as it did with the sale of 360 Furman and three other buildings on Livingston, Hicks and Clark Streets that the organization recently sold.
As for the other 24 buildings that Watchtower owns in the Heights and nearby Dumbo, the organization, as it often does, is keeping its plans close to the vest.
"Currently we don’t have any plans to sell any more," Mr. Devine said. "At least not at this time." JAKE MOONEY
-
Rabbit
Which WT building is it that has the "Read the Bible" & "Watchtower" on top ? The white one next to the Brooklyn Bridge ?
That's the one I wanna see in somebody else's hands !
-
Odrade
$2000/month??? for a studio? I've stayed in one of the Standish "studios." My bedroom in my house is larger than the "studio." (And my house is a ranch house built in the 70s, so my bedroom is not big.)
The view, though, was spectacular. Best Manhattan skyline pics I ever got, and that was only from the 4th floor.
-
betterdaze
As a side point — and certainly not to derail Blondie's real estate transaction topic —
What's also intriguing about Mr. Reibling's background is his involvement with AHI Angel Healthcare Investor Group:
http://www.hcangels.com/portfolio.html
Please note, it is NOT my intention to start any unfounded rumors here or anywhere. However,
Angel Healthcare could or would be the ideal apparatus to finance manufacturers of alternative blood products which carry the WTBTS stamp of approval.
Knowing very well that "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark," the healthcare/biotech investment connection simply could not escape my notice.
Perhaps someone with the time, resources and wherewithal will delve into this further?
~Sue -
Junction-Guy
This is all very interesting.
-
horrible life
Betterdaze, I think the questions you raised, need to go on it's own thread, so it won't get buried. Very interesting, and maybe somebody who is off work tomorrow, would do a little digging. You are very observant!! High-Five!!
-
betterdaze
HL, "So is it written, so it shall be done."
And a high five back atcha!
~Sue -
Gayle
The one with the sign, I think was the Squibb building that the WT bought in the early 70's. That was a big deal back then. I was at Bethel then & purchasing that was one of the things that made me go "hmmmm", maybe the end isn't so soon afterall.