NEW YORK (AP) — The group of Muslims planning to build a 13-story Islamic center and mosque near ground zero appears plagued by divisions that raise questions about the future of the project, with one major investor saying he is prepared to sell some or all of the site if the price is right.
Hisham Elzanaty, an Egyptian-born businessman who says he provided a majority of the financing to gain control over the two buildings where the center would be built, told The Associated Press this week that while he supports the concept, he needs to turn a profit.
He said one of the buildings is worth millions if it is redeveloped, and he intends to seize the opportunity. He said he would like to see the other building turned into a mosque, but if his community doesn’t come forward with enough cash for him to break even, he will turn it over to someone else.
“I’m a businessman. This was a mere business transaction for me,” said Elzanaty, a U.S. citizen who has lived on Long Island for decades, owns medical clinics in New York City and invests in real estate on the side.
Representatives of some of the project’s backers said they have just started trying to raise the estimated $100 million needed to build the center and the millions more required to run it.
Elzanaty said his real estate partnership, which paid $4.8 million for half the site last year, has already received offers three times that much to sell that parcel.
“Develop it, raze it, sell it,” he said. “If someone wants to give me 18 or 20 million dollars today, it’s all theirs.”
A spokesman for the developer leading the investment team declined to confirm Elzanaty’s claim that he has a majority stake in the partnership, or comment on whether he needs approval from the rest of the group to decide the fate of the two buildings.
Dealing with potential conflicts among investors is but one of the challenges facing the group trying to organize the center.
The concept was first broached publicly late last year by a group of backers that included Feisal Abdul Rauf, an imam who leads a small Manhattan mosque not far from the World Trade Center, his wife, Daisy Khan, who heads a Muslim nonprofit group, and a real estate investor who is a member of Rauf’s congregation, Sharif El-Gamal.
Together, they outlined a plan to demolish a pair of linked buildings and replace them with a tower that would hold a theater, a health club, a performing arts center, a culinary school and a mosque.
Since then, though, it has been difficult to determine who is in control. The key players in the development are represented by different publicity firms and different lawyers, and have varying agendas and no consistent message.
Rauf left the U.S. just as controversy over the plan was becoming explosive. His first significant public comments in months came in a letter published Wednesday in The New York Times in which he referred to the center as the Cordoba House — a name that had been abandoned by other backers weeks ago in favor of the moniker Park51, which reflects the project’s address.
Rauf also said for the first time that the center would also include separate prayer spaces for Christians, Jews and people of other faiths.
“I do not underestimate the challenges that will be involved in bringing our work to completion,” he wrote, adding that construction has yet to begin. “I know there will be interest in our financing, and so we will clearly identify all of our financial backers.”
Sharif El-Gamal, who had emerged as the public face of the project in Rauf’s absence, has declined most interview requests, leaving critics free to speculate about who is behind the center.
In his few public statements over the past few weeks, he has portrayed himself, rather than Rauf, as the key force behind the proposed center, and created a new nonprofit group to raise the estimated $100 million needed for construction.
Yet it is unclear how much authority he has to set the project’s agenda.
In one typical episode in late August, a guest imam scheduled to oversee Friday prayers at the site of the planned center invited reporters throughout New York City to come hear him speak. When they arrived, they were met by an exasperated El-Gamal, who instructed police to keep the media out, saying the invitation was unauthorized.
Until late last week, El-Gamal had declined to identify any of the eight investors involved in his real estate partnership, or say whether any had a controlling interest. Real estate partnerships in New York are generally not required to disclose their membership to the public. On Friday, he acknowledged for the first time in response to media inquiries that Elzanaty was a major contributor.
After speaking with Elzanaty on Tuesday, the AP contacted El-Gamal’s spokesman, Larry Kopp, to see if he could confirm Elzanaty’s statements that he is the principal investor in the project and has the final say over what happens to the real estate. Kopp said El-Gamal wouldn’t comment on the ownership issues.
The business transactions surrounding the project are complicated.
Half the site is owned by the real estate partnership that includes Elzanaty and is managed by El-Gamal, according to city property records. The other half is owned by the utility Consolidated Edison, but controlled through a long-term lease that another real estate entity purchased for $700,000 last year. Elzanaty said he put up all of that money and thus controls the lease, which allows its holder to tear down the building and construct something new.
Elzanaty said that while he would love to see the entire site become a center that would replace the sometimes shabby places downtown where Muslims pray now, the project can’t come at the expense of his investment.
As for the criticism that it would be inappropriate to build any Muslim house of worship so close to the trade center site, where victims of Islamic terrorists died, Elzanaty said he strongly disagreed.
“There is a public opinion that says no, but if you say no, you are defeated by the fanatics,” he said.
Elzanaty added that he believed that his own parents were victims of terrorism.
His mother and father were passengers on an EgyptAir flight that crashed in the Atlantic Ocean in 1999. U.S. officials ruled that the co-pilot deliberately steered the plane into the sea. No group claimed responsibility for the crash, and investigators have discounted the possibility of terrorism. Egypt has claimed that mechanical failure caused the crash.
Still, Elzanaty said it is hurtful that some critics of the mosque project have accused him of secretly sympathizing with terrorists, given his personal loss.
Some of those detractors have pointed to a donation that he made in 1999 to the Holy Land Foundation, which was later indicted on charges of contributing money to the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Five leaders of the foundation were recently convicted of illegally supporting Hamas.
Elzanaty said he believed his donation was being used to support Palestinian orphans, and noted that the U.S. government had the foundation on its list of IRS-approved charities until 2001.
“America is my country,” he said, “and I will never do anything to hurt it.”
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paulblack
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 11:44pmGround zero backers are trying to figure out how to cover their tracks.
Report Post »housemouse
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 5:07pmHow long will it take for our “elected” leaders, and the brain-deal liberals (who would be the first to die under Islam) to understand that Islam is not a religion, but a government (theocracy) that is in direct conflict with our Constitution and our Bill of Rights.
All mosques should be banned, all visas held by muslims revoked, and any American citizen who follows Islam should be invited to either abandon Islam, or emigrate to a Muslim country.
Also, we should stop sending our tax dollars to Islamic counties until they quit with the threats, and abandon the notion that they are going to convert us all or kill us. And, do you think there are moderate muslims? Perhaps!
But these live in mortal fear of the Imams and the jihadists. Not a way for Americans to be living, and it is time to fight back.
Report Post »GlennBeckIsADemagogue
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 5:37pm“All mosques should be banned, all visas held by muslims revoked, and any American citizen who follows Islam should be invited to either abandon Islam, or emigrate to a Muslim country.”
Dude! What country are you living in? The is America, not some third world country run by a fascist dictatorship. Is this your idea of liberty and justice for all?
Report Post »The Flame
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 12:56pmSo Glenn and Sarah are planning on using the deaths of 3,000 to fundraise over dinner and drinks. Tickets for the event are selling for up to $225 each., Sarah says she “can think of no better way to commemorate 9/11″ than to spend it with the man who infamously said ”When I see a 9/11 victim family on television, or whatever, I’m just like, ‘Oh shut up’ I’m so sick of them because they’re always complaining.”
Report Post »So for this pair of hucksters the best way to commemorate 9/11 is to travel to the farthest end of the continent where there will no detestable 9/11 victims present, drink booze and charge people $225 to shake their hands. And they call themselves “Patriots.” Some people will buy anything and for others there no depths of depravity that they will fail to indulge in.
GlennBeckIsADemagogue
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 5:33pmRight on!
Report Post »julian7
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 9:53amI read this and an idea popped in my head; how about Glenn doing a telethon to try and raise the money to buy out this investor? I think we can get 1M Americans to give a minimum of $20.00 each for a maximum amount of 20M so we can preserve that spot and put something befitting for our dead brethren.
Report Post »aprilp
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 11:32amGreat idea!
Report Post »The Flame
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 1:01pmThe ring wing billionaires who bought Glenn Beck’s soul could buy half of lower manhattan without batting an eye. The won’t however because they want to fan the flames of hatred.
Besides Glenn gave up any right to talk 9/11 when he said “When I see a 9/11 victim family on television, or whatever, I’m just like, ‘Oh shut up’ I‘m so sick of them because they’re always complaining.
Let Glenn come to lower Manhattan and visit some of the firehouses personally. We will never forget Glenn Back and Glenn Beck would never that visit.
Report Post »TOSMARTTOBELIBERAL
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 7:45amLet them build it ….. SO WE CAN TEAR IT DOWN.
Enough PC crap already. Have people lost their perspective? This is a slap in the face to every freedom loving person in this nation. THe sad part is you have a bunch of useful idoits (self-rightous liberals) who love thie idea !!!! HOW PATHETIC YOU ARE !!
Report Post »BeHeardAmerica
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 7:30amWe want to build a Mosque at ground zero to help unify people, if you stop us there will be violence! WHAT?
Report Post »wampanoag
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 6:27amThe mosque is dead. Why would the building owner sell the building to the Arab for a measly and grossly undervalued $4.8 million if he had offers of $18 million in 2007. The reason is that he sold the building for a lot more, but to avoid capital gain taxes most of the money was paid under the table in secret. This is a crime that should be investigated by the IRS.
Report Post »thegr8restoration
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 3:06amLook peoples….It peaves me off to the nth degree that this Mosque is to built in this location! As a Christian and an American I harbor no hatred twards Moslums or any one. I find it very insensitive that a Mosque called “The Cordoba House”(come on) is to be built only 500 ft from dare I say it a sacred site a memorial and a grave for thousands of murdered Americans by Islamic extreamist, terrorist! America is the most tollerant nation on the planet but tollerance is a two way street.
I will oppose and protest the construction of THIS Mosque. I will demand the authorities investigate the funding of THIS Mosque. This is my right! So long as there is no funding from terrorest (Iran, Hesbola, etc.) there is nothing I or anyone can do to stop it. I may not like it but I guess I have to tollerate it. This is an example of this Christian this Americans tollerance now prove to me the -I- in Islam does not mean Intollerence.
Report Post »danubius
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 1:49amAmericans are way behind the curve and divided about Islam. Islamic expansion started as a benign guest worker program in Western Europe without much controversy. Once they reach the critical mass they would launch a violent dominating process mostly in Marxist oriented countries like Britain and presently the Sharia law is considered applicable venue in Britain.
Terror is their main weapon to frighten the political class.
Socialist Scandinavia is terrified and succumbed to the daily burning and street violence by Muslim immigrants while Switzerland prohibited building minarets and keeping close tab on the Muslims by plebiscite.
Next territory to conquer appears to be the US and Islamists carefully analyzing the reaction to their first push to invade N.Y.C. This is only a test of will: Anglos are more accommodating (US, Britain, AUS) than Continental Europeans….
Report Post »mzmaj7
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 1:14amWould it be cynical to consider the timing of this admission from Elzanaty, just after he was accused as a terror fundraiser?
Credit goes to the AP for mentioning this, but I would not have buried it in the final paragraphs. But that‘s why I don’t work for the AP.
Report Post »Honor101
Posted on September 8, 2010 at 11:42pmHow many Islamist terrorists populate the world? It seems to me if there are millions of Islamist terrorists and the moderate islamists have never been able to stop them from growing, why on earth would we ever allow a mosque to be built right next to a place where the islamist terrorists gained one of their biggest victories. This is so illogical it is almost ridiculous. But then again, Obama feeds the fire so I understand how ridiculous becomes the norm.
Report Post »wingnutt41
Posted on September 8, 2010 at 11:35pmThis does not pass the “smell test.”
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on September 8, 2010 at 11:19pmCordoba House. Park 51. Community center. YMCA. mosque mosque mosque. community center. now it’s defiantly back to Cordoba House, in honor of their slaughter and subjugation of Spain centuries ago. well, what is it. a mosque gets protection, a community center doesn’t. no, it is nothing but a TEST of America, see what ways our winds blow. and they already know they have obama in their robes. even tho he said so years ago in his book ”Audacity of the Dope”.
Report Post »GarbyBarengar
Posted on September 8, 2010 at 11:25pmUgh… come on really?
Are you even a Tea Partier?
I thought they didn’t resort to falsehoods and misinformation on top of generalizations.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on September 8, 2010 at 11:12pmmoney talks and camel crud walks.
Report Post »GarbyBarengar
Posted on September 8, 2010 at 11:11pmThere is no ground zero mosque. The AP is starting to get less and less specific.
But anyway one of the shareholders of … News Corp I think it is… has some stake in this building.
Report Post »BeckingOrder25
Posted on September 8, 2010 at 10:55pmProve your patriotism by calling to RSVP for the Quran burning fest via http://www.MuddyPolitics.com
Report Post »GarbyBarengar
Posted on September 8, 2010 at 11:23pmWell? Denounce this fellow Tea Partiers.
He is making your movement look like wackos as some might put it.
Report Post »alluptoyou
Posted on September 8, 2010 at 10:46pmI might become more sympathetic to the Ground Zero mosque if we can get approval to build a Jewish synagogue or an evangelical Christian church next to Mecca. “But the United States Constitution says we have freedom of religion!” they argue. Well, it also says something about the right to a speedy trial by an impartial jury. But if someone invades my home with intent to do harm to my family, I and I alone have the power, at that moment, to decide what punishment should be inflicted. By invading my home and threatening my family, you have surrendered your right to trial. My feeling is that these Islamic leaders want to invade what has become to most Americans a very sacred site. It has become sacred as a result of a very evil deed perpetrated by people who profess to believe in the same god as they do. The answer is NO. Through the monstrous act of their fellow believers they surrendered their right to build a mosque at Ground Zero. Build your mosque where you don’t inflict so much harm on so many grieving Americans.
Report Post »aprilp
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 11:27amAmen Alluptoyou!
Report Post »Joseph
Posted on September 8, 2010 at 10:00pmI’m not sure of the name of the kid in South Park, but he always said the same thing…Ha Ha!
Little do they know that the rumor that is being spread is that someone snuck into the basement and poured 50 gallons of pig blood in it.Now the entire site is defiled for the mosque, if the rumors are correct. if so, Ha Ha!
I know, that’s sick, but if the rumor is true, there was no violence commited in opposition. Well Obama can give a grant in retaliation to have someone put a Bible, Torah, and Crucifix in a jar of urine as an art piece for the National Museum of art.Small price to pay for no mosque near ground zero.
Report Post »DGroundhog
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 7:45amIt’s the Simpsons, and his name is Nelson.
Report Post »smartypoop
Posted on September 8, 2010 at 9:46pmHorsepoop.
Report Post »poppopschell
Posted on September 8, 2010 at 10:13pmCan you be specific about what is horsepoop in my post? I like to corrected when I’m wrong just like Glenn Beck does.
Report Post »poppopschell
Posted on September 8, 2010 at 9:45pmIsn’t it interesting (i Know just a coincidence) that ONLY Glenn Beck publicly asked who the financial backers are several weekis ago and now the MSM AP is investigating this. It seems that once again the America hating MSM started a big story when the probablity of finding the needed $100 million is it appears quite remote. What was the MSM’s motive for hyping this and also for the Florida ministers plan to burn the Koran. This minister has a congregation of less t5han 100 people.
IF I was a cynic, I would say the MSM is trying to start a war for the NWO PTB.
Report Post »PeterBreitholtz
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 12:49amWho owns Ground Zero Pussycat Lounge and Ground Zero Thunder Lingerie?…what bull$$$$…build the f$$$$$ mosque! @andersoncooper
Tweeted on 9-08-10 via web at Twitter
Report Post »mzmaj7
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 1:06amMany have questioned the identities of the financial backers. Beck was late to the game.
Report Post »t00nces2
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 7:06amPeterBreitholtz is a paid troll. Do not feed! Pray for him.
Report Post »motomatt
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 9:28amSimple solution. As soon as they tear down the old building to begin construction of the Mosque, just slaughter a couple of pigs on the site and let their blood soak into the soil. Done!
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