Long-Vacant Watchtower HQ Could Become Apartments

"Developer CIM Group and Morris Adjmi Architects shared a pre-ULURP presentation to Community Board 2 in June. The developer filed a land use application in December, according to Department of City Planning records. The proposal would enlarge the 12-story building at 25 Columbia Heights to 17 stories with 14,850 square feet of commercial/community space on the ground floor and 392 apartments above."

"Now 13 stories, 30 Columbia Heights would gain an extra floor to become a 14-story, 269-unit building with commercial or community space and parking. Twenty percent to 30 percent of units in each building would be designated affordable. Three buildings, ranging from four and five stories, at 50 Columbia Heights, 58 Columbia Heights, and 55 Furman Street would not be enlarged."

"CIM Group is the only remaining developer from the original group who purchased the buildings from the Jehovah's Witnesses for $340 million in 2016. That team proposed a retail and office redevelopment dubbed Panorama Brooklyn, but LivWrk and Kushner Companies pulled out in 2018."

CIM Group is developing a mixed-use project on the former Jehovah's Witnesses Watchtower headquarters in Brooklyn Heights. The proposal includes expanding 25 Columbia Heights from 12 to 17 stories with 392 apartments and expanding 30 Columbia Heights from 13 to 14 stories with 269 units. Three smaller buildings will remain unchanged. Twenty to thirty percent of units across the larger buildings will be designated affordable. The project includes 113,000 square feet of commercial and community space. CIM Group purchased the cluster of buildings for $340 million in 2016. A previous retail and office proposal called Panorama Brooklyn was abandoned when other developers withdrew in 2018. The land use application was filed in December, with ULURP proceedings expected to commence soon.

Read at Brownstoner