Sorry correct link:
shepherdless
JoinedPosts by shepherdless
-
57
Despite a 'number' of similar projects being pulled, the Chelmsford Project will continue...
by NeverKnew inthis article suggests that there are projects being halted, but chelmsford isn't one of them.
can someone from the uk tell me if this article was written by a reputable and known publisher?
plans for huge jehovah's witnesses hq continues.
-
-
-
57
Despite a 'number' of similar projects being pulled, the Chelmsford Project will continue...
by NeverKnew inthis article suggests that there are projects being halted, but chelmsford isn't one of them.
can someone from the uk tell me if this article was written by a reputable and known publisher?
plans for huge jehovah's witnesses hq continues.
-
-
shepherdless
Chelmsford clearly has significant contamination issues as well. See the following link:
www.chelmsford.gov.uk./temple-farm
Scroll down to the July 2015 update, for example.
-
29
outside consulting firm used for JW building site , to be complete in 2019.
by brandnew incrofton wins key role on jehovah's witnesses campus.
6 may 2015 | by yoosof farah.
engineer lands role on scheme that will predominantly be designed and constructed by volunteers.
-
-
shepherdless
There are some huge numbers and huge discrepancies on this thread in relation to Temple Farm. I did a bit of research. Here is how I see the likely actual figures (in rough ballpark terms).
A description of what is being built at Chelmsford is here:
http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/temple-farm
Note that it states 112,500 sqm of "mixed use development". That would probably be gross floor area, as I read somewhere that it is only 22 acres (around 90,000 sqm). "Mixed use development" is a reference to the project containing both residential and non-residential, as I understand it.
A brief review on the internet suggests it would cost at least £800, or more per sqm to build something like that. (Obviously, that is just a guestimate.) Perhaps with volunteer labor, that might come down to, say, £500 per sqm, but I doubt it.
800 x 112,500 = £90 million. That is just a ballpark figure. It could be way off. Also, that is only the cost to build. It does not include the original purchase cost, printing presses etc. It sounds as though there are some significant site contamination issues to resolve as well, which would be expensive to resolve.
£90 million is a big project for the UK branch to take on, if the following link to their financial statements is correct:
https://jwleaks.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/2014-wtbtsb-financial-report.pdf
That financial statement, compared to earlier ones (I haven't included) suggest that they have pulled together £50 million in cash, presumably for this project.
I don't believe the completed project would be saleable for anything like £3 billion, later. It is not like a house or a standard commercial building. Any future owner would have to modify it extensively to suit. The project may only be worth land value when complete. I don't know the area, and have never been there, but I tried to get a rough idea of land value in the area, using real estate websites. It seemed to me 22 (uncontaminated) acres in that area may be worth £20 to 50 million, but I could be way out.
This does not look like a real-estate play to me, as it would be too difficult to on-sell on completion. It seems like a project conceived in better times, but is now in difficulty. I note there is another thread where there is a rumor that only one part will be built.By the way, I am not an expert on any of this. There must be others in a much better position to comment.
-
57
Despite a 'number' of similar projects being pulled, the Chelmsford Project will continue...
by NeverKnew inthis article suggests that there are projects being halted, but chelmsford isn't one of them.
can someone from the uk tell me if this article was written by a reputable and known publisher?
plans for huge jehovah's witnesses hq continues.
-
-
shepherdless
I just spoke with a brother who volunteers on security on the site, he told me there is lots of earth moving going on but its top secret.
He said they think there is something big being built underground at the site, and thats why most volunteers had to leave, there is only 30 or so left, the security volunteers are not allowed near the main project they have to stay in the forest areas.
I read elsewhere that it is a contaminated site. Remediating a contaminated site often involves a huge amount of earthworks, to remove the contamination. (Expensive too.)
That would be my guess.
-
12
Today was an odd day.
by paul from cleveland inexperienced a series of odd coincidences today.
this morning i noticed a friend had "liked" a picture i had posted on facebook.
i hadn't spoken with him for a while so i texted him that we should get together to 'catch up' some time soon.
-
-
shepherdless
Paul, I now believe you are genuine. Apologies for doubting.
As Happeanna says, you handled an extraordinary and tragic day, brilliantly.
-
12
Today was an odd day.
by paul from cleveland inexperienced a series of odd coincidences today.
this morning i noticed a friend had "liked" a picture i had posted on facebook.
i hadn't spoken with him for a while so i texted him that we should get together to 'catch up' some time soon.
-
-
shepherdless
Okay Paul, perhaps I am jumping to conclusions. If you are genuine, then I offer my genuine apologies.
-
12
Today was an odd day.
by paul from cleveland inexperienced a series of odd coincidences today.
this morning i noticed a friend had "liked" a picture i had posted on facebook.
i hadn't spoken with him for a while so i texted him that we should get together to 'catch up' some time soon.
-
-
shepherdless
Wow Paul, that is one heck of a set of coincidences.
But it doesn't stop there. I have found a whole heap more! A few days ago, someone called John Aquila posted a very interesting story as well. John's story has a very similar word count to yours. He also often began paragraphs with "Then..." Also (just like you) he began one paragraph with "Anyhow...". There is an uncanny similarity in the way both you and John divide up stories into paragraphs. Also the occasional use of FULL CAPS for emphasis. I could go on.
If it wasn't for the different use of colors and square brackets, and your remarkably different stories, I would think that you and John were one and the same.
So many coincidences! -
59
Would I lie to you?
by slimboyfat ingiven recent posts on the forum and discussion, maybe we could play this game: would i lie to you?
in the uk we have this tv programme where minor celebrities tell weird or embarrassing stories about themselves and the rest of the participants have to guess if it is a true story or made up.
when the others have voted then the person reveals if the story is true or false.
-
-
shepherdless
In relation to my own two stories, 2 is a complete fabrication.
in relation to 1, I did flour the story to throw people off the scent.
Firstly, my active JW wife has indeed viewed all the proceedings. She knows the proceedings better than me. I have no idea how she came to investigate that. My guess was that it came from someone at KH, but I just don't know. That was just a surmise or dubious extrapolation on my part.
Secondly, my second para is completely true, except it happened months ago, and:
(A) I don't know whether or not the old lady has internet access. I just threw that in, given a recent post by John Aquila.
(B) As bizarre as it might seem, I don't detect an internal struggle in my wife. In fact, I do not understand how someone who knows what she knows is still in the "truth", but she is rock solid.
So overall, by many people's standards, my first post was true.
Anyway, that was fun! Perhaps a good workout for people's b.s. detector as well.
-
59
Would I lie to you?
by slimboyfat ingiven recent posts on the forum and discussion, maybe we could play this game: would i lie to you?
in the uk we have this tv programme where minor celebrities tell weird or embarrassing stories about themselves and the rest of the participants have to guess if it is a true story or made up.
when the others have voted then the person reveals if the story is true or false.
-
-
shepherdless
My guesses:
Anders: I would have picked 2 as more real. (I see you say both are true.)
LoveUni: I picked 2 as I knew enough about running to know 1 was impossible .
Nicolaou: 1. Is very plausible. 2. is not the way people typically react. Hence I guess 1.
PeteZ: I would have picked 3 and 4. I guess I got one right.
greatteacher: I guessed 2 because I couldn't understand how your husband's boss got to the other side of the door after locking it. I obviously read too much into that.
sbf: 1 is quite plausible. 2 is not quite right.
Bonsai: 2, or wouldn't post.
TMS: 1. Language not quite right (too theatrical) for 2. Also I can't see a panel of 3 reversing a decision.
TMS again: 1, as 2 is not the way people generally behave in that situation.
-
59
Would I lie to you?
by slimboyfat ingiven recent posts on the forum and discussion, maybe we could play this game: would i lie to you?
in the uk we have this tv programme where minor celebrities tell weird or embarrassing stories about themselves and the rest of the participants have to guess if it is a true story or made up.
when the others have voted then the person reveals if the story is true or false.
-
-
shepherdless
I will take up sbf's challenge.
**************
Story 1:
I can not believe it. I have hope for the downfall of the borg.
I have read here that those that are still in the borg don't talk about the Australian Royal Commission. Well that is not the case in my wife's congregation. Not only that, my wife actually has viewed all the proceedings. I don't know the details of what they discuss when they go out on field service, but I suspect that there they talk more openly.
Linked to the discussions they have, there is an elderly sister in my wife's congregation, that lives not far from us, that my wife sometimes picks up and drives to meetings. Through her life living in a number of Australian congregations following her husband around (now deceased). She told my wife that Jehovah is simply not "with" some of those congregations. This is a lady in her 80's that does not have access to the internet, and webstes such as these. Her words have had an effect on how my wife views Watchtower. Unfortunately her faith has not been broken yet, but I can detect an internal struggle.
Story 2:
Our local Kingdom Hall is set on a slip road to an arterial highway. There is a Pentecostal Church further up the slip road, but otherwise the area is taken up by light industry (small factories, warehouses etc). The nearest residential plots are a street back. I guess when it came to build a Kingdom Hall, it was cheap land.
Recently, a friend of mine in the commercial real estate business has been asked to provide some advice on that kingdom hall. In particular, advice on its potential as commercial real estate. My friend explained it is worth virtually nothing as a meeting hall as there are plenty of those around and they don't generate much income. It has no value as a retail outlet either, given its location. However, its location as a warehouse and storage facility is huge, especially given the existing carpark and fairly secure fencing around it. It is set on a large block of land.
I gather someone is probing the market. My friend did not say who. At the moment two congregations operate from that Kingdom Hall, but the numbers that attend my wife's have dropped to around 30 to 40. I can see them combining the congregations with others nearby. There are 2 that are within 20 mins drive, and it would make sense for them to rationalise. Or at least it would make sense if Watchtower is nothing more than a publishing and real estate business.
*********
There you go. One of those stories is true. The other is completely false.