May 26 2010
Welcome to the (HSUS) Machine
A regulation U.S. football field, including the end zones, covers 57,600 square feet. The two-story Maryland headquarters of the Humane Society of the United States is bigger.
I'm not making that up.
According to an application that HSUS filed in 2007 with the city of Gaithersburg, Maryland, its headquarters complex has 62,000 square feet of office space.
And that application? It was for permission to build another 300,000 square feet of office space. Plus at least 250 residential homes.
Who says we're in a "down" economy? HSUS seems to be doing just fine.
Is HSUS expanding its own operations? Building a campus for "Humane Society University"? Diverting its donors' money into risky commercial real estate speculation?
If all that planned office space is for HSUS itself, the organization's new commercial footprint would become bigger than the largest Wal-Mart. But any way you slice it, it's hard to justify.
Most Washingtonians think the Humane Society of the United States works out of a pipsqueak-sized downtown office building at the corner of "L" and 21st Streets. Although HSUS's name is above the entrance, and HSUS owns the real estate, it occupies comparatively little of it. The majority of HSUS employees work in the sprawling Maryland facility instead.
In 2007, HSUS began to petition the City of Gaithersburg for permission to improve that 10.5-acre Maryland real estate parcel. HSUS's proposed development would include:
...up to 300,000 square feet of office development in structures between 6 and 12 stories, up to 250-300 residential units in multifamily buildings between 6 and 12 stories, and a combination of above and below ground structured parking ...
The Maryland HSUS headquarters is plenty big as it is. Visitors get that "Fortune 500" feeling from the smoked glass and the 6-foot-long sign, and they know they're about to board the animal-rights mother ship from the "NO HUNTING" placard nailed to a nearby tree.
It's the sheer size of HSUS that makes some people (including HSUS donors) tear their hair out. Montgomery County, Maryland recently assessed the value of HSUS's Gaithersburg land and its headquarters building at $10,468,300.
Meanwhile, many (if not most) of HSUS's donors naïvely believe that most of its money is going right out the door to needy pet shelters.
Nope.
Here's a thought: If HSUS were giving most of its dough to pet shelters (instead of charging them for services), it probably wouldn't be able to afford a $38 million payroll. Which means it couldn't employ such a large staff. And it wouldn't need to fill such a large building.
Naah. That would make too much sense.
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Comments
They have 400+ employees, so they need to put ‘em somewhere. Don’t see the big deal here.
@James E. - Why can’t they get apartments or houses like the rest of society? I mean, my job doesn’t provide me with a house or apartment to live in close to work!
Hopefully, the IRS Dallas office will get this report for consideration.
Interesting they would display a no hunting sign. Must be for fanfare,as Gaithersburg Maryland prohibits the discharge of any weapon for any reason within the city limits.
Humane Watch should investigate if this property is mortgaged.
Here is what the CFO of the HSUS said at the time
“Ultimately we have an obligation to our constituents our members and our donors to enhance the value of our assets and this is a significant asset with the Humane Society So let me close by saying that we would
like to have a quality development for this site ... ‘
What the heck?? People don’t own STOCK in the HSUS.. They do not get anything BACK for their “investment”.. no dividends.. no stock splits .. no way to sell their investment .. so why does the HSUS have an “obligation to their constituents” to do anything except help animals. Why would a donor feel their donations was “enhanced by the HSUS building 300 homes..
Guess what.. they won’t.. Please make sure everyone you know hears about this..
HSUS is a BUSINESS .. and their BUSINESS is making mo’ money.. anyway they can..
How will building 300 homes help animals??
Don’t cults provide housing for their followers? I seem to remember Waco and all of the housing they provided. Where is Janet Reno when you need her?!
Where’s Wayne’s parking space? Do you think he has a company car?
I wonder how that tree feels about having a sign NAILED to it? Tree rights people need to investigate.
700 Professional Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
Owner: HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES
Total land value: $5,472,800
Total value for property: $9,439,366
Total assessed value for property: $9,439,366
Base area of building: 33,904 square feet
Number of stories: 2
Date of current assessment: 01/2008
Year property was built: 1982
Oh give me a break Humane Watch aka front organization for animal abusers. Why don’t you attack how our government wastes it’s money and buildings? Tons of non profits have massive headquarters. All the better to fight off the massive corporations. Your blog makes me sick. While Wall Street and BP rape our country you are busy attacking an organization that at least means well. Go volunteer at a shelter or simply donate to animals off this site. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO SAVE ANIMALS? exactly.
Lexi? Feeling a little off-kilter yesterday?
What are you talking about, these people on this site want to abuse animals? What?
HSUS is going to develop acreage for housing and offices??? Can you imagine the vast number of defenseless forest creatures that will be killed or disposessed of their homes, all for the greed of this corporation that masquerades as an animal rights group? In one fell swoop these greedy bastards will kill more animals than the average hunting club kills in decades.
Animal rights is not the concern of the HSUS: making money is. They are worse than any corporation in the U.S. becuase they are greedy hypocrties.
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what in the world was the 250-300 residential units for?
let me guess- perks for employees? on site housing?
this is how an animal protection group spends its money- building massive headquarters and hundreds of housing units.
why, why, why are these people not being investigated for fraud?