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.
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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