Properties owned by the Watchtower Society
Massey Knakal Realty Services will be marketing three properties in Brooklyn Heights known as the Watchtower Buildings that are valued at $18.45 million altogether, the Commercial Observer reported. But the buildings — at 183 Columbia Heights, 50 Orange Street, and 161 Columbia Heights — will be marketed individually. For decades, their owner has been the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, a wing of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. And in previous instances when the buildings were up for sale, there was no asking price and no brokerage to handle the sale, the Brooklyn Eagle noted. Richard Devine, a spokesperson for the Watchtower Society, said that this was a new approach by the religious organization. Two of the properties were up for sale with the former Standish Hotel in 2007, but in the end the Standish was sold by itself and the other two buildings were withdrawn from the market. In this instance, 50 Orange Street is being marketed for $7.35 million, 183 Columbia Heights for $7.65 million and 161 Columbia Heights for $3.45 million. Massey Knakal Chairman Robert Knakal notes that the buildings have been extremely well maintained by the Watchtower Society and that the buildings at 50 Orange and 183 Columbia Heights have “stunning” views of the Manhattan skyline, harbor and bridges from their upper floors. [Commercial Observer] and [Brooklyn Eagle]