Now that I am officially a resident of DUMBO, I am launching a new real estate feature that I will update every so often (read: whenever I can get to it). For now, I am calling it The DUMBO Report, simply because I cannot think of a title that is clever or interesting.

The DUMBO Report (or "TDR") will be an update on the neighborhood: New developments, construction reports, sightings, openings/closings/shutterings, musings, tastings and various other ramblings about all things DUMBO. TDR will make every effort to maintain a detached and objective point of view, but, in an effort at full disclosure, it should be noted that I am happily enconsed in 70 Washington Street, and am also an advocate of the neighborhood.

Today's installment deals with two developments on Jay Street: The J Condo and 85 Jay Street (the future site of the Jehovah's Witnesses world domination headquarters).

The J Condo: Men at Work

As these photos clearly show (and we risked life and limb to balance atop the fence to get these), men are working in a big hole in the ground. It looks like the foundation has been dug, and we saw a pipe and valve truck dropping off, well, pipes and valves. The burly looking guy we tried to question regarding timing, next steps and construction plans didn't seem too moved by our efforts to cite the First Amedment, so we politely gathered our things and left him to be paid his union wage for standing around and "managing" the site.

85 Jay Street: Still A Parking Lot for the Faithful

You gotta love those Jehovah's Witnesses. They put up a biblical fight to attain the right to build on this land, and they're still just using it to park their cars (they gained approval in December '04). The massive 2-acre lot is surrounded by a foreboding metal fence, complete with barbed wire (apparently thou shalt not steal, or gain entry of any kind into this lot).

We scouted the entire perimeter and finally found a chink in the armor, through which the keyhole photo above was taken (construction voyeurism?). We at TDR have no updates as to when the JWs might actually break ground on this property, but, personally, we're happy for it to remain a outdoor garage. If nothing else, it's interesting to note that some of the JWs seem to drive nice, foreign-made cars (note the Beemer several cars in) as they make their way all along (and to and from) the Watchtower.

More DUMBO news soon.

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