This article from The New York Times... I hope some of you New Yorkers will explain what this is about... where is "Dumbo"? And I thought the WT was "getting out of the city"?
[quote]http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/16/nyregion/16JEHO.html?tntemail0
[b]February 16, 2003
Paving a Parking Lot and Putting Up Paradise[/b]
By TARA BAHRAMPOUR
Like many of his neighbors, Michael Crane, president of the Dumbo Neighborhood Association, does not want to see the Gap come to his neighborhood. Mr. Crane is not talking about the clothing store but rather a blocklong dead space that could be created if a residence hall for the Jehovah's Witnesses goes up at 85 Jay Street.
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, better known as the Jehovah's Witnesses, occupy about 30 buildings in Dumbo and Brooklyn Heights, using them for offices, printing facilities, residences and shipping.
The organization also owns a three-acre parking lot bounded by Jay, Bridge, Front and York Streets where it wants to build a residence for up to 2,000 people. Currently, 3,000 to 4,000 people live in Dumbo.
Residents worry that another large Jehovah's Witnesses building could stymie the creation of a local
commercial corridor. The site abuts the subway stop for the F train and is on a main thoroughfare where residents would like to see small stores. Jehovah's Witnesses traditionally do not rent out retail space, so some local people fear a concrete behemoth with no relation to street life.
"On Atlantic Avenue there's this big spot where the jail is, call it the Gap," Mr. Crane said. "We don't want to have the Gap in Dumbo.''
To accommodate the religious group, the Department of City Planning is considering a request to rezone the site from light manufacturing to residential use. Community Board 2 has not yet gotten a formal proposal, but William Vinecombe, chairman of the board's land-use committee, echoed Mr. Crane's concerns.
Although no plans have been drawn up yet, Robert Alexander, a spokesman for the Jehovah's Witnesses, said the building would be "something harmonious with the surrounding area." As to concerns that the structure would be out of scale with its neighbors, he responded, "I really don't think we're going to be looking at a tower."
He added that Jehovah's Witnesses buildings tend to make neighborhoods safer because of increased security and pedestrian traffic, such as the 60,000 to 70,000 visitors that he estimated the group's buildings bring to shops in Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo each year.
Mr. Alexander did not have a solution to the Gap problem. "Generally, we don't get involved in any commercial enterprises," he said. "We would not even be thinking about it until we really got our plans."[/quote]
PS: I triple-spaced the article, used "bold" and "quoting"... hoping it will work!
WT Wants to Build Residence for 2,000 in Dumbo, NY
by abbagail 5 Replies latest social current
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abbagail
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Buster
Hey GRITS.
Is that real? Dumbo Neighborhood Assn.? They must be so proud. Anyway, it seems that they are planning on some pretty serious growth, evidenced by new residential facilities plans and the recent purchases of new printing presses.
My mind immediately jumps back to 70s era assemblies and meetings where the big boys were chastising those that had the audacity to plan ahead. Things like business planning and education plans were clearly evidence of weak faith. Compare that to the planning it takes to create and operate these residential and industrial facilities. It takes years to work out that stuff. Have they no faith? Christ is coming back isn't he? Oh, I know he's already here and graciously allowing more time for the preaching work. But it is soon, I'm sure.
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Seven
Hey Grits,
Dumbo is short for "Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass." Why do I know this? Friends from NYC set me straight. http://www.dumbo-newyork.com/
cheers,
seven
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abbagail
Hi Seven, thanks for the "Dumbo" explanation! :) The only Dumbo I ever knew had big floppy elephant ears, lol. I'm all for acronyms, getting lazy in my old age. I remember how relieved I was to finally learn what SOHO meant after watching NYPD Blue for a few years, lol. ;) Hi Buster! Yes, how about that? I was surprised myself, like you, with the WT buying the new presses, and then seeing this article today. Seems there's no end to their "future growth." Or... maybe they are building a 2,000-bed Watchtower Pedophile-Rehab-Center, eh? Resident Therapy will include: More Bible & WT reading, More Praying, More Studying, More Meetings, More Service... Of course! That same protocol has kept all the other dubs out of trouble, so why not the pedo's? :-/
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Gerard
The WT found out recently that their Brooklin buildings have lots of asbestos, this may precipitate their move.
Speaking of abestos, could this be the reason the GB's
brainsperspectives are so twisted? -
waiting
Robert Alexander, a spokesman for the Jehovah's Witnesses, said the building would be "something harmonious with the surrounding area." As to concerns that the structure would be out of scale with its neighbors, he responded, ..................
.................."I really don't think we're going to be looking at a tower."
Get this! A rep for the Watch TOWER tells the reporter ......"I really don't think we're going to be looking at a TOWER."
Was his pun intentional or just stupid?
waiting