Harlem's large West African community that is located along the western end of 116th Street (between FDB/8th Avenue and Lenox) is having trouble securing the contract for a bigger church property a block away and Crain's provides some insight on their struggle for more worship space:
LINK. The devout at the Aqsa mosque overflow into the street during prayer time and we reported that the group recently tried to acquire the former Greater Zion Baptist Church a block west but that $2 million building (lower photo) currently fell out of contract:
LINK. Crain's further explains that most of the trouble for the mosque started back in 2008 when the new landlord planned to sell the property (top photo) for high-rise development. We also found an old Real Deal article that reported on the rent increase at the current location from 4,000 to 7,5000 per month:
LINK. The major concern now is that if the mosque moves to a more affordable location such as the Bronx, Harlem's West African community will move with it.
This Episcopal girl knows from nothing about the politics of the local mosques but could they merge with the Shabazz mosque which seems not to the have the population of the Aqusa?
ReplyDeleteAS someone who lives across the street i hope they find a way to raise the money to go around the corner. I have no issues with the mosque itself and they definitely bring a flavor to the neighborhood, but i do find it annoying that they are on the sidewalk during prayer time, and while initially the first time I saw/heard it was quite interesting, I do not need to see/hear this all the time. I also do not fail it is right that thye spill into the streets, or whether it is legal. It would be like letting all the churches or synagogues conduct their services out on the street.
ReplyDeleteBut it is funny because none of the articles have ever really shed light on what the real status of the lease is at the current building. We have all heard and been told that they had to vacate soon because of development, but that does not seem to be the case.
It would be interesting to know whether they simply didn't have quite enough cash for a down payment on the new building, or whether there is some technical issue that makes it impossible for them to get a loan on that building (in which case they'll presumably need to raise the full $2 million).
ReplyDeleteYou would think that there are enough different parties involved -- each with interests that are actually pretty closely aligned -- that it should be possible for them to just to sit down and hammer out a deal to make the move happen sooner rather than later.
per NYTimes the old church just had a price reduction to 1.85 million
ReplyDeleteThis maybe slightly off topic but there is a mosque at St Nicholas and 113 that has speakers attached to windows and broadcasts prayers very loudly during the day. I thought that was illegal. Does anyone know if indeed it is?
ReplyDelete