Jehovah's Witnesses now owns a major apartment complex in the Town of Fishkill.
Tenants say they've been told their leases will not be renewed.
The sale of the 250-unit Rivercrest Luxury Apartments closed Dec. 3, the deed on file at the Dutchess County Clerk's Office shows. While sale price is not stated, the transfer tax indicates a transaction for $57 million.
Rivercrest is a modern development west of Route 9D just north of Beacon and was a project of AVR Realty, which also developed other housing and commercial spaces in that area as well as projects in eight states.
The sale deed is between Rivercrest Development LLC, based in Yonkers, and Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. as the buyer. Watchtower is bettter known as Jehovah's Witnesses.
The Jehovah's Witnesses headquarters did not have a comment to offer today, Monday, but said the inquiry would be referred to directors for consideration. Tom Perna, development manager for AVR Realty, was away, according to a person at his office. Staff at the rental office at Rivercrest declined to comment in detail but did confirm the complex had been sold and that they were not renewing leases.
Tenants believe the international religious organization plans to have their own people move into units that are emptying at Rivercrest.
Jehovah's Witnesses bought a vacant parcel in the Orange County Town of Warwick in 2009 and began construction of a new world headquarters in July 2013. Completion is targeted for 2017, according to the Witnesses' website.
Jeff Cohen, who has lived at the Rivercrest community for about seven years, said he is moving out to another rental complex.
"I'm getting out because they're not renewing anybody's leases," he said, citing information he learned from the rental staff. Leases expire at various times through the year. He said he was pleased that management let him out of his lease, which runs through June, because he expects that many residents will be flooding the rental realty market.
He said neighbors who have leases expiring this month have to work fast to find new homes. "I think it's pretty upsetting that at this time of year, families are told, we have to vacate the premises," he said.
Craig Wolf, Poughkeepsie Journal
Fishkill is 35 miles (50 minute drive) from Warwick, 25 Miles (35 minute drive) from Wallkill, and 20 miles (25 Minute drive) from Patterson. These apartments are somewhat central to all three complexes. What is Watchtower going to do with the apartments? My guess is that they will fix them up let some of the temporary volunteers who are working at Warwick live in them a little while, then eventually sell them for a profit.