by Kenneson 13 Replies latest social current
JW's applied for city rezoning in order to build a six building, 1,000 unit residential complex at 85 Jay St. But the folks in that neighborhood don't want it. "Dumbo Neighborhood Association President Nancy Webster says the Jehovah's Witnesses' residential rezoning in Brooklyn poses a threat to the area's development."
See "Dumbo says no" at
Thanks Kenn.
| DIFFERING VIEWS: DUMBO Neighborhood Association' President Nancy Webster (above) says the Jehovah's Witnesses' residential rezoning in Brooklyn poses a threat to the area's development. |
December 14, 2003 -- Another real estate turf war is cooking in Brooklyn.
This one squares off DUMBO dwellers against Jehovah's Witnesses, whose plans to build a massive housing complex has the trendy neighborhood residents from Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass fuming.
The religious group recently applied for city rezoning to develop a six-building, 1,000-unit residential complex at 85 Jay St., directly adjacent to the only subway station in the red-hot 'hood.
Locals are angry because they say the castle-like complex will detract from the developing area's industrial aesthetic and waste potentially valuable retail space in what could soon be a well-trafficked corridor.
"This huge parcel is going to become the heart of the neighborhood, and we don't want our heart to be a fortress," said DUMBO Neighborhood Association President Nancy Webster.
The proposed complex is located on a three-acre block bounded by Jay, Bridge, Front and York Streets where the Witnesses have accumulated property since the 1980s.
Surrounded by converted industrial buildings and three- and four-story brownstones, the complex features towers that will range between 14 and 20 stories and an underground garage for more than 1,000 cars but allots no space for retail, according to Witnesses representative Richard Devine.
"A commercial enterprise is outside the scope of our purpose as an organization," Devine said. "This would give us flexibility to consolidate some of our residents and bring life, pedestrian activity and security to an area that sorely needs development."
Enraged DUMBO residents posted a Web site last week called 85jaystreet.org to encourage an anti-rezoning letter-writing campaign.
They say the Witnesses have been cooperative in discussing development issues but disapprove of the fact that the group would be exempt from paying property taxes.
"They tend to be very insular and don't engage with the arts festivals or the resources of the community," said Marcia Hillis, an artist who lives in the area. "It will be 2,000 people walking through [DUMBO] to get to their own walled structure."
Residential real estate in the artsy neighborhood has doubled in value since 1999, with the average condo selling for up to $1 million, said Domenick Neglia of Brooklyn's Neglia Appraisals.
Neglia said the proposed complex was "very valuable" but predicted the Witnesses' presence would not negatively impact the neighborhood's character.
"In five years, this will be the hottest neighborhood in Brooklyn, and the addition of these 2,000 people will be a very small percentage of the population," he said. "People aren't concerned about living across the street from them."
The Witnesses have worked with architectural firm Beyer Blinder Belle to match the complex's design to buildings in the area, Devine said.
"We don't want to create animosity with our neighbors," he said. "We're not a developer who's going to build a building and then run away."
Experts like Jed Walentas, vice president of major DUMBO developer Two Trees Management, questioned the Witnesses refusal to incorporate retail space into the complex's plans.
"To have that be an active, lit, public component is critical to long-term development," he said.
The Department of City Planning is currently reviewing the Witness' environmental impact statement for the site, according to representative Rachael Raynoff.
The Witnesses own several other properties throughout Brooklyn, including a million-square-foot Bible shipping facility at 360 Furman St. in Brooklyn Heights, which they listed for sale six weeks ago.
sKally
They say the Witnesses have been cooperative in discussing development issues but disapprove of the fact that the group would be exempt from paying property taxes."They tend to be very insular and don't engage with the arts festivals or the resources of the community," said Marcia Hillis, an artist who lives in the area. "It will be 2,000 people walking through [DUMBO] to get to their own walled structure."
This is it in a nutshell, of course. Dubs only benefit other Dubs. (Depending on the mood, of course!)
That has to be frustrating for a community...I hope they will not have to let them in. It would be one thing if the JWs partcipated in local community events and charities...but you know they won't. And, they wont be paying property taxes...but of course the city will have to provide services etc...and a place that big, you would think it just may affect property values adversly.
The JWs need to have a place in an area where there are already apartment complexes. If they want to have the residents feel safer, then just move the wholed damn operation out to Wakill...or buy a bus and transport them back and forth each day. Then they can avoid the "bad associations" while going to work.
I think any religion has to show that they have charities or fund charities that give to communities regardless of religions affiliations BEFORE they are granted tax exemption. This preaching work stuff doesn't cut the muster with me...I respect the right of any religion to go out and knock on doors to increase the fold, but to say it is actually charitable work makes my skin crawl......ewwwww
"We are going to expand," Johnson said. "The Constitution allows us to grow."
Famous last words! LOL
Perhaps it should be added to the list of Watchtower false prophecies. Interesting to see things a few years down the track.
Famous last words! LOL
interesting choice of words really. for a group that "remains neutral." hmmm.
But wait a minute. These are the same people who say simplify our lives. Un burden ourselves. So why are they going to get involved with a building project if the end is right around the corner? How is building this apartment complex brining glory to Jehovah's name, if the people in the neighborhood don't want it there? Shouldn't all things be for god's glory? Why am I asking such questions that have no real answer?
Find out in the next exciting adventure of......
On Good Friday, 1878, [Russell] gathered his followers on the Sixth Street Bridge in Pittsburgh to await the end of the world and their ascendance into heaven.
I hadn't heard of this before. Does anyone know if it is correct?
Regards,
Ken
New York City, America's capital of hedonism
Actually, I think that is Las Vegas....a little bit of hedonism now and then does everyone good
