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'Ground Zero mosque' developer buys building next door to controversial project



The developer behind the planned Islamic cultural center just two blocks from Ground Zero has bought the adjacent building it was revealed on Wednesday.


According to DNAInfo, Sharif El-Gamal recently purchased the five-story property at 43 Park Place, next door to the proposed development, for $8 million. He now controls three neighboring properties on the same block in downtown Manhattan.

El-Gamal reportedly used a $7 million mortgage to buy the building on January 23 using the shell company 43 Park Place Partners Corp.



Portfolio: Sharif El-Gamal, the developer of the 'Ground Zero mosque', has bought this adjacent property. El-Gamal now controls three buildings in the same block











Controversial: The Ground Zero Mosque, also called Park51 Islamic Center, is two blocks from the site of the 9/11 terror attacks. Left is an artist's rendering of the final version of the community center, while the picture on the right shows it as it currently stands






El-Gamal and his partners reportedly bought 45-47 Park Place for nearly $5 million in July 2009.


This property was a former Burlington Coat Factory store that suffered extensive damage on 9/11.


More...
Founder of Ground Zero Mosque 'spent more than $3 MILLION earmarked for Islamic charity on lavish trips, luxury sports cars and real estate'
Pay up or you're out: Ground Zero mosque threatened with eviction over unpaid $1.7MILLION in back rent
'Ground Zero mosque' opens just two weeks after 9/11 anniversary - as developer admits 'incredible mistakes'

The group also lease 51 Park Place from Con Edison and were threatened with eviction by the utility company in October 2011 over a claimed $1.7 million in unpaid back rent. Together the properties make up the Park51 project.

There are ambitious plans for a $140 million Islamic center at the site, which would incorporate a prayer space, that is open to all faiths, cultural programming and a 9/11 memorial.



The controversial developer bought the five-story building on the right in January but construction has not yet started on his ambitious plans



Big thinking: There are ambitious plans for this $140 million Islamic center at the site, which would incorporate a prayer space, that is open to all faiths, cultural programming and a 9/11 memorial

The property opened its doors with a photo exhibit on September 21 2011, 10 days after the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

At the time El-Gamal admitted they should have done more to calm concerns of those who lost loved ones on 9/11.


Since then progress has been slow on plans for the planned 15-story glass building and construction has not yet started.

The developer said he wanted a site where he could take his daughter for swimming lessons as well as learn about Islamic culture.

But he said their good intent should have been mixed with more of a dialogue with the opposition.

'The biggest mistake we made was not to include 9/11 families,' he said in 2011, noting that the advisory board includes at least one 9/11 family member.


'We didn't understand that we had a responsibility to discuss our private project with family members that lost loved ones.'

Too close for comfort?: Map shows the proximity of the Park51 facility, also called the Ground Zero Mosque, in relation to the site of the 9/11 terror attacks

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