any JW construction going on other than Warwick?

by Magnum 43 Replies latest watchtower scandals

  • Journeyman
    Journeyman

    They finished the new Bethel in Argentina earlier this year, but it seems (as from another thread) that the work on the one in Italy has stalled, or at least slowed significantly.

    Ramapo still seems to be dragging on, but we don't hear much about it at the moment. Last video I found on the JW site was named "2023 update on..." but now that it's August 2024 we're over halfway into another year without there being anything new it seems.

    Not a dicky-bird about any notable expansion in local Kingdom Hall builds anywhere either, or even mass renovations. I know of one new build, and a couple of minor repair works here in London, but not a lot.

    Everything's much more low-key compared to a few years ago. Even accepting COVID would have set back a lot of plans, the initial buzz when congregations first came back together after the pandemic has fizzled out. I don't sense any huge excitement for "theocratic" projects, so I wouldn't be surprised if the GB are struggling to get the donations and volunteer labour they need to keep the momentum up on their desired construction plans.

    The bubble seems to have finally burst - or at least it's deflating - on building up the property portfolio and turning it over for profit.

    We also don't know what the state of projected finances is either - it could be that the JW bean counters are bracing for massive outlays on lost court cases in the USA and Europe in the near future and so are pulling the purse strings tighter?

  • ThomasMore
    ThomasMore

    Journeyman - WTC has serious financial issues so ANY construction will be to counteract talk about the desperate nature of their situation. I recently learned that they are using commercial companies to do what volunteers used to do exclusively. It is clearly an attempt to (A) keep the rank n' file in the dark, (B) prep KHs for future selling, and (C) avoid challenges that free labor was used right before a sell.

    However, there are still some who are quick to volunteer for speculative projects. Such projects appear to be fund-raising expeditions. After the money flows in, the project dissolves and WTC pockets the money.

    As for the volunteers, they are the "I'll do anything to avoid doing more of the current nonsense" crowd. I suppose they are true believers who really think the end of the system is close enough to keep their emergency blinkers on all the time. Some are trust fund kids, but the majority are older ones with no hopes of retiring on more than their social security. They are looking for meaning in their lives and a break from the treadmill of being a regular publisher in a religion that is no longer offering excitement or meaning.

    When the slowdown began, a lot of RBC men were disillusioned and went into a funk. LDC men were selected for their "speak no evil" loyalty. To keep the important secrets, WTC used traveling remote Bethelites. This untested concept was a disaster. Complaints about their behavior flooded in like water into a ship made of swiss cheese..

    The money was drying up faster than a teenage model, so they quickly canceled all the projects. They raided the congregation coffers after properties were sold, and strongly directed elders NOT to try to work around the LDC. I knew of some who procceded with their own renovations despite. They were disciplined.

    Most elders have the scars to prove that anything other than what they are told to do will result in great pain.

    Now there is a shortage of loyal men and the money has run out. It is the perfect storm for WTC.

  • NotFormer
    NotFormer

    ThomasMore, LDC, RDC meanings? (I assume that the C stands for "committee")

  • pepperheart2
    pepperheart2

    i just put kingdom halls for sale up on my search engine and i got 3 kingdom halls up for sale on estate agents websites for 2022 2023 and 2024 .in the uk .as well as the child abuse claims i wonder how many bethals in africa and asia are actually paying their way

  • LaFrancia
    LaFrancia

    Even in southern Europe the renovation work on some kingdom halls has been postponed. I don't know the real reason. If it happens in other countries then it could be a directive from Warwick. Know that right now they have made a very large settlement in Montana and this opens the door to other payments to close the cases.

  • Balaamsass2
    Balaamsass2

    When I Google the subject I see some activity...but not nearly as much as 10-20 years ago. "Flipping" Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls HAS to be a CASH COW for Watchtower. ALMOST ZERO original costs to WATCHTOWER (all donations and free labor) and no taxes after the sale (non profit Religion). I would imagine Watchtower has a number of Accountants and commercial Real Estate people who are creating spreadsheets to calculate "Internal Rates of Return" on all Kingdom Halls around the world just as any corporate real estate investor would do. Area's future projected property values, current cash flow/rent, potential profit in a sale now or sometime in the future. They may even hold mortgages ("take back paper") on some sales to other Religions if the returns are attractive. Imagine...Almost zero cost basis, almost zero labor costs, cash flow, and zero sales taxes....= an almost infinite internal rate of return!!!

    Some results: https://www.sonomanews.com/article/news/new-jehovahs-witness-kingdom-hall-completed-with-help-of-local-women/

    https://www.meridiancapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/44-17-Greenpoint-Avenue-Set-up.pdf

    https://images1.loopnet.com/d2/qBt3fE1cgIN1oNMlWscQL88nk9fnzL18xzgVe72N_OI/Other.pdf

    https://www.atproperties.com/11688126/2833-e-79th-street-chicago-illinois-60649-nei

    https://02038.com/2009/01/jehovahs-witness/

    https://antonmediagroup.com/former-geico-building-in-woodbury-to-become-worship-facility/

    https://jw-longisland.org/

    https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/purchase-of-former-church-fuels-speculation-on-new-saskatoon-shelter

    https://warwick.nub.news/news/local-news/jehovahs-witness-meeting-hall-in-warwick-put-up-for-sale-209398

    https://altrincham.todaynews.co.uk/altrincham-property/2023/10/17/kingdom-hall-of-jehovahs-witnesses-in-timperley-to-be-demolished-after-being-sold-for-housing/

    https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/dundee/4919572/former-dundee-jehovahs-witness-church-goes-on-market-for-250k/

    https://www.steedrealestate.com/properties/kingdom-hall-church-1.html

    https://www.bakercityherald.com/news/local/jehovahs-witnesses-renovating-kingdom-hall/article_5174858a-5be3-11ee-a8ef-57e4e79be1c9.html

  • was a new boy
    was a new boy
    "Flipping" Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls HAS to be a CASH COW for Watchtower.

    Charged interest at the rate of 6 percent on loan, then became the owners.

    11

    'Why charge interest? Basically, the small amount of interest that is being charged serves to protect the contributions from inflation.'

    https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/201985125



  • ThomasMore
    ThomasMore

    Not Former - LDC is Local Design Committee and RBC is Regional Building Committee.

    RBC is defunct now. LDC does some coordinating but not much else. As you are probably aware, money flows into Watchtower Corporation but does not flow out. They don't spend unless they have a plan to make money.

  • ThomasMore
    ThomasMore

    Balaamsass2 - ...and yet they have a cash flow problem that forces them to sell KHs to keep their nose above the waterline.

    I have heard estimates on the CSA payout totals but no one really knows. Silent Lambs says it is over $200 million but that does not include court cases. Who knows since they provide ZERO TRANSPARENCY into their expenditures. I only know that the claims are coming in at an alarming rate and they are paying everything with NDA's in place.

    They still have a real estate empire but I suspect that most are leveraged to the hilt to provide the operating expenses needed - which are incredibly high due to maintenance, healthcare, stipends and CSA settlements. Donations have decreased dramatically and many congregations are unable to meet their monthly expenses which threatens the monthly donation. Fear of having their KH sold drives them to dig deep for the monthly donation, otherwise the KH ceases to have value and is summarily sold form under the congregation.

    WTC is using commercial firms for most maintenance since they cannot rely on volunteer labor like they used to do. Also, they don't want to be accused of using volunteer labor just prior to selling of a KH. They have contracted with commercial firms all over the country and they send them to do large projects that are needed just before a property is liquidated.

    Someone (a non-JW) recently asked me if JWs would help a friend that is an active JW in need of financial help. Sadly, that is not ever going to happen. I explained that WTC does not do charitable work, even for their own members despite their tax exempt status.

  • ThomasMore
    ThomasMore

    Magnum - I PM'd you.

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