NY1 Exclusive: Developer Won't Budge on Mosque Location (Says It's "Nowhere Near" Ground Zero)

New York One ^ | Tuesday, August 17, 2010 | Grace Rauh

[kristinn]

SNIP

Sharif El-Gamal is the developer behind the plan to erect an Islamic community center and mosque two blocks from the World Trade Center site.

Calls are mounting for him and the other backers to find a new home for their center, further away from the site of the September 11th terrorist attacks, but El-Gamal isn't budging.

He is sticking with his plans to erect a 13-story center and prayer space in Lower Manhattan. He likens the project to a YMCA or Jewish Community Center, with programs open to all residents of all faiths.

"A landmark, an iconic building that will have people come and visit it from around the world,” said El-Gamal as to what he imagines. “This looks like it is going to be the most famous community center in the world."

SNIP

"Park51 is a community center. It is two blocks north of the World Trade Center site,” said El-Gamal. “In New York City, two blocks is a great distance. There are some buildings in New York that have their own zip codes. There is such a scarcity of space in New York, especially in Lower Manhattan. Keep in mind this is a small island, so we are nowhere near the World Trade Center site."

SNIP

Of course, the project got a boost from the White House last weekend when President Barack Obama spoke strongly in support of the developer's right to build the center. El-Gamal says he heard the president's remarks while he was on his way to East Hampton. He says he was blown away.

[rod1]

They are not dumb. They have very specific agendas usually involving money, access, control and power. It is times like this when those agendas become rather clear.

[rhombus]

Where are the unions in this? Are they going to stand with their masters or are they going to throw up some picket lines?

[ichabod1]

It’s more like:

One lie for the infidel
A different lie for the believers.

But I take your point.

[Monkey Face]

If Obama is a “Christian,” why is he celebrating Ramadan in the White House?

Oh, gee. Let me guess..../sarc

[traderrob6]

“Joe Scarborough is not a bad guy .....”

What planet are you on?

[Monkey Face]

A not-so-devout Muslim in Pakistan said to me one day, when he learned a trusted friend had stolen 100,000 rials from him, “A man MUST be dishonest. But not THAT dishonest.”

I took from that a lesson...dishonesty in dealing with others is accepted if it gets you what you want.

[chuckee]

Joe Scarborough works for The Liberal Man (MSNBC). He knows how to sing for his supper. Same for house “conservative” David Brooks of the New York Times.

[Izzy Dunne]

Park51 is a community center

Whaddya say we collect a few Freepers, a few cold ones, and some pork rinds, and head on down to the community center and hang out a while?

[matt1234]

Short term, this is good news. Keeping this story in the news cycle will drive dem poll numbers lower and lower. (Of course, the long term good news would be that the mosque is not built.)

[Stand Watch Listen]

".....so we are nowhere near the World Trade Center site."

FYI

45–47 Park Place, -- HISTORYDuring the September 11 attacks, the then-five-story building at 45–47 Park Place,, between West Broadway and Church Street, was severely damaged. The building is located two blocks (less than 600 feet (180 meters)) north of the former World Trade Center.
That morning, the terrorists hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 as part of their attack on the World Trade Center Twin Towers. They crashed the plane into the South Tower at 9:03 a.m, triggering the destruction of the tower hours later.. The plane penetrated through the tower, and part of the plane's landing gear and fuselage came out the north side of the tower and crashed through the roof of 45–47 Park Place, and through two of its floors. The plane parts destroyed three floor beams, and severely compromised the building's internal structure.
At the time, the building was leased to the Burlington Coat Factory. Stephen Pomerantz owned the building, and his wife Kukiko Mitani, subsequently attempted to sell it for years, at one point asking for $18 million. Until its 2009 purchase, however, the building lay abandoned……..

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I like how he’s giving a great big middle finger to Smucky, Cuomo and Gilbrand. These lame-brained Dem hacks stuck there noses in and now they’re gonna get feces thrown at them.

[DustyMoment]

NY1 Exclusive: Developer Won't Budge on Mosque Location (Says It's "Nowhere Near" Ground Zero)

Places in Utah are "Nowhere near" Ground Zero. The proposed site of their terrorist training and command center is within 2 blocks.

[Drill Thrawl]

You will be tolerant of our religion or we will kill you, you stupid Kafir!

[roses of sharon]

“The history associated with the building, a former Burlington Coat Factory store that closed after being damaged on 9/11, was a reason to pick it for the project”... she said.

The Cordoba Project head told USA Today this in May...she also called it a mosque.

(the mods removed my posted article for some reason)

[ichabod1]

that’s what monkeys do.

[albie]

“with programs open to all residents of all faiths”.

...if that’s true, I’d like to join the Christian program please!

[Roccus]

Thanks for the correction. My Post #21 incorrectly stated that the landing gear came from Flt. 11

[swain_forkbeard]

“We all know this is so wrong.”

I think it’s wrong. But even the various politicians and commentators who oppose it all fail to articluate exactly why it is wrong. They all talk about sensitivty and appropriateness, and that totally misses the point.

It is much more imortant than just not hurting feelings. It is not about the message it would send to to the victims of 9/11. Rather, it is about the message it would send to Muslims here in the U.S. and around the world.

We are dealing with cultural symbols, and they are very powerful. We must not allow a cultural symbol of Islam to be built on the ruins of a cultural symbol of America which was destroyed in the name of Islam. That would symbolize, in a very tangible, physical way, a victory of Islam over the U.S. Allowing this would validate the 9/11 attack and invite future attacks.

I don’t think what I have said is terribly insightful or original. It seems obvious. So why am I not hearing this argument? Or have I missed it?

[onyx]

BUMP and thank you.

[REPANDPROUDOFIT]

Remember that cross in California that had to be taken down because it offended someone? How come our being bothered by the mosque doesn’t rate the same reaction? What about manger scenes being banned?