Rezoning could bring 661 new housing units to former Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Watchtower HQ
Commercial to mixed-use on the edge of Brooklyn Heights
Overview of a plan to enlarge and rezone the former Watchtower headquarters in Brooklyn Heights. If approved, the rezoning could bring 661 new units of housing. Rendering: CIM Group/Morris Adjmi Architects
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — A proposal to enlarge and rezone the former Watchtower headquarters from commercial to mixed-use residential is moving through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure process, with a public environmental scoping meeting the next step.
The New York City Department of City Planning is hosting the virtual scoping meeting on the “25-30 Columbia Heights” project, also known as the Panorama Brooklyn buildings, on Thursday, March 12, from 2-5 p.m.
The buildings, bordering Hillside Dog Park, are on the edge of Brooklyn Heights but are not within the Historic District. The sites are bounded by Columbia Heights and Doughty, Furman and Vine streets. Renderings were provided by CIM Group with Morris Adjmi Architects during Community Board 2’s June 2025 presentation.
If approved, the rezoning would result in a net increase of 1,446 residents and a net decrease of 1,752 workers by 2029, according to an analysis by the DCP.
The Watchtower’s headquarters had an iconic sign, which is shown in this 2017 picture. Photo: Lore Croghan/Brooklyn Eagle
Former home of big red Watchtower sign
CIM Group, LivWrk, and Kushner Companies (owned by Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner) acquired the century-old buildings, with 30 Columbia Heights topped with the famous red “Watchtower” sign, for $340 million in August 2016, according to the Brooklyn Eagle. (Renderings show the “Welcome” sign being retained atop the rezoned building.)
The Jehovah’s Witnesses had originally purchased the buildings from pharmaceutical giant E.R. Squibb & Sons. The complex includes 25, 30, 50, 58 Columbia Heights and 55 Furman St.
LivWrk and Kushner Companies have since dropped out of the project, leaving CIM Group, which has secured a $245 million refinancing loan from JPMorganChase, according to CommercialSearch.
It is unclear from the renderings if the skybridge over Columbia Heights will be retained, but according to City Realty, it will be eliminated. Photo: CIM Group
661 new residences
CIM Group’s plans include building 661 residential units, with 20-30% affordable, depending on the option chosen, according to DCP.
The 12-story “Projected Development Site 1” at 25 Columbia Heights would be converted to 17 stories with 392 residential units, plus commercial or community space, and 165 parking spaces.
“Projected Development Site 2” at 30-58 Columbia Heights would be enlarged by one story to 13 stories with 269 residential units, commercial or community spaces, and 23 parking spaces. Three smaller buildings on Site 2 — commercial buildings of four to five stories — would not be changed.
Before and after diagrams of the proposed rezoning of 25-30 Columbia Heights, the former Watchtower headquarters. Diagram: CIM Group
According to City Realty, both buildings slated for rezoning currently sit vacant, with Brooklyn’s office market cooling while residences are hot.
To join the scoping meeting and comment, please visit the “Calendar” page of DCP’s website.To view the Scoping Notice, Draft Scope of Work, Environmental Assessment Statement, Positive Declaration and Scoping Protocol, visit theColumbia Heights Rezoningproject page.
Map showing the 25-30 Columbia Heights development site. Map: CIM Group
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