Jehovah's Witnesses moving to Warwick

Times Herald-Record, New York/November 16, 2009

Warwick - The Jehovah's Witnesses are planning an administration and residential complex off Long Meadow Road on the former International Nickel Company site.

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York is proposing to relocate some of its administrative offices from its World Headquarters in Brooklyn to the 257-acre site it purchased in July.

The organization is cleaning existing buildings on the site constructed by International Nickel - a two-story former laboratory and a one-story industrial building - and preparing for future development, Facilities Manager Troy Snyder said.

Watchtower wants to put additions on the two buildings and build four separate five-story residences, a two-story building for maintenance shops, a vehicle repair shop, a heating/cooling generator house and a one-story recreation service building, according to a town Planning Board proposal.

The buildings, to be constructed on 30 of 257 total acres, would be sustainable and eco-friendly.

Most of the 750 parking spaces at the facility would be underground.

Development is in the earliest stages.

The town Planning Board will host a scoping session this week to determine the contents of a required draft environmental impact statement.

Adult workers would live on site. Snyder said no children would live there.

The site, previously owned most recently by Touro College, will be tax-exempt.

Watchtower intends to sign agreements with the Greenwood Lake Fire Department and Tuxedo Fire Department for first-responder services, according to the proposal.

This property joins three others owned by Watchtower north of New York City - a printing and farm facility in Shawangunk, an educational center in Putnam County, and a property in Rockland County, purchased earlier this year.

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