CIM Pursues Residential Rezoning for Brooklyn’s Watchtower Complex

CIM Pursues Residential Rezoning for Brooklyn’s Watchtower Complex
News| March 12, 2026| Paul Bubny
New York & Tri-State + Apartment Buildings

The Watchtower buildings, the largely vacant former headquarters of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Brooklyn, would be converted into hundreds of residential apartments under a proposed rezoning of the waterfront property, Gothamist reported. The proposal by developer CIM Group, still in its early stages, would convert the office buildings to 661 residential units, including 165 affordable units.

The sprawling complex includes five buildings, located at 25 and 30-58 Columbia Heights in Brooklyn Heights. The properties served as headquarters of the Jehovah’s Witnesses until a decade ago.

David Wellspring, CIM Group’s VP of development, told Gothamist that the company sought to turn the site from “largely vacant former industrial buildings into a thoughtful mixed-use residential community, including much-needed permanently affordable housing” near the Brooklyn waterfront.

“We have been actively engaging local stakeholders and look forward to continuing that dialogue to deliver meaningful housing and economic benefits for the community,” Wellspring said.

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