ClaimAuthority and accountabilityverified2010sContext

Authority and accountability · Claim record

Reported prices for other Brooklyn disposals include $375 million for a package of former Witness buildings in Dumbo (Kushner/RFR/LIVWRK, 2013), $345 million for the 85 Jay Street site (closed 20 December 2016) and $87.5 million for 107 Columbia Heights (Clipper Realty, 2017); a December 2015 AP report cited an estimate of '$1 billion or more' for the remaining portfolio.

Claim ID claim-authority-2013-2017-other-brooklyn-sales-figuresConcerns 20 December 2016Context

The claim and its evidence

Context · 20 December 2016 Verified

Reported prices for other Brooklyn disposals include $375 million for a package of former Witness buildings in Dumbo (Kushner/RFR/LIVWRK, 2013), $345 million for the 85 Jay Street site (closed 20 December 2016) and $87.5 million for 107 Columbia Heights (Clipper Realty, 2017); a December 2015 AP report cited an estimate of '$1 billion or more' for the remaining portfolio. Source: The Real Deal (magazine), 1 April 2016Source: The Real Deal, 4 August 2016Source: DNAinfo New York, 15 February 2017Source: jw.org Newsroom, 20 December 2016Source: CBS News (Associated Press), 13 December 2015

Show the evidence (5 sources)
Reputable reporting Verified

The Real Deal (magazine), “The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Brooklyn holdings”

1 April 2016 · Farah Halime · The Real Deal

“At one point, its portfolio totaled 37 properties in Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo — including a pack of six buildings that sold for $375 million to a team led by Jared Kushner and RFR Realty … $1 billion: The total amount three buildings owned by the Jehovah’s Witnesses — 25-30 Columbia Heights, 124 Columbia Heights … and a giant parking lot at 85 Jay Street in Dumbo — could fetch.”

Also states the headquarters was bought for $3 million in 1969 and gives a (third-party study) estimate of $368 million in property tax exemption over 12 years — treat that figure as an estimate, not a fact.

Provenance and verification note for The Real Deal (magazine), The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Brooklyn holdings

Confidence note. Fetched the live article via curl and read the text.

Corroborated by. src-cbs-2015-1213-ap-could-make-1-billion

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-trd-2016-0401-jw-brooklyn-holdings

Reputable reporting Verified

The Real Deal, “Kushner, CIM & LIVWRK close on $340M Watchtower buy”

4 August 2016 · Katherine Clarke · The Real Deal

“A partnership led by Kushner Companies, CIM Group and LIVWRK has finalized a deal for the famed Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Watchtower building in Brooklyn … The deal, valued at $340 million, is one of the largest ever closed in the borough.”

Notes the 733,000 sq ft headquarters at 25-30 Columbia Heights, that RFR dropped out, and that the same partners had earlier bought five other former Witness buildings in Dumbo for $375 million.

Provenance and verification note for The Real Deal, Kushner, CIM & LIVWRK close on $340M Watchtower buy

Confidence note. Fetched the live article via curl and read the text.

Corroborated by. src-brownstoner-2017-0601-kushner-transform-hq, src-jworg-2016-0805-news-sale-25-30-columbia-heights

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-trd-2016-0804-kushner-close-340m

Reputable reporting Supported

DNAinfo New York, “Jehovah's Witnesses to Sell Brooklyn Heights Building for $88M, Buyer Says”

15 February 2017 · Alexandra Leon · DNAinfo

“Sale price $87.5 million; buyer Clipper Realty; 107 Columbia Heights, 11-storey, 161 units. Other Watchtower sales mentioned: 85 Jay Street $345 million; Watchtower headquarters $340 million (as summarised by the fetch tool)”

Confirms the 85 Jay Street price which the organisation's own release omitted.

Provenance and verification note for DNAinfo New York, Jehovah's Witnesses to Sell Brooklyn Heights Building for $88M, Buyer Says

Confidence note. Opened the live page (archived DNAinfo site). Downgraded to supported after review: the page was opened but the wording or date recorded here was tool-summarised, translated or inferred rather than confirmed by eye; re-read before upgrading.

Corroborated by. src-jworg-2016-1220-news-sale-85-jay-street, src-trd-2016-0804-kushner-close-340m

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-dnainfo-2017-0215-107-columbia-heights

Primary JW publication Verified

jw.org Newsroom, “Witnesses Sell One of Brooklyn’s Largest Undeveloped Sites, 85 Jay Street”

20 December 2016 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

“On Tuesday, December 20, 2016, Jehovah’s Witnesses sold 85 Jay Street to an investment partnership led by Kushner Companies, CIM Group, and LIVWRK.”

Full-block Dumbo site with close to one million sq ft of development rights; no price disclosed.

Provenance and verification note for jw.org Newsroom, Witnesses Sell One of Brooklyn’s Largest Undeveloped Sites, 85 Jay Street

Confidence note. Opened the live jw.org page.

Corroborated by. src-dnainfo-2017-0215-107-columbia-heights

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-jworg-2016-1220-news-sale-85-jay-street

Reputable reporting Supported

CBS News (Associated Press), “Jehovah's Witnesses could make $1 billion from NYC properties”

13 December 2015 · Associated Press · CBS Interactive / AP

“36 separate Brooklyn properties; headquarters bought from Squibb for $3 million in 1969; expected to fetch '$1 billion or more'; Tucker Reed (Downtown Brooklyn Partnership) called $1 billion 'a conservative estimate' (as summarised by the fetch tool)”

Spokesman Richard Devine: the organisation bought 'scattered properties wherever we could find them' as it grew; move to Warwick allows more efficient operation.

Provenance and verification note for CBS News (Associated Press), Jehovah's Witnesses could make $1 billion from NYC properties

Confidence note. Opened the CBS syndicated copy (apnews.com is blocked in this environment). Downgraded to supported after review: the page was opened but the wording or date recorded here was tool-summarised, translated or inferred rather than confirmed by eye; re-read before upgrading.

Corroborated by. src-trd-2016-0401-jw-brooklyn-holdings

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-cbs-2015-1213-ap-could-make-1-billion

Claim page

A direct link to this claim is https://jwtruth.org/evidence/claim-authority-2013-2017-other-brooklyn-sales-figures/. Every source above opens the original document or the best available copy. If you believe the wording, date or context is wrong, report an error.