Faith

Report: Ground Zero Mega-Mosque Developers May Be Facing Eviction

Ground Zero Mosque Park51 May Be Evicted By Con Edison

Pedestrians walk past the 19th century building on Park Place in Manhattan where Muslims plan to build a mosque and cultural center Saturday, Aug.14, 2010, in New York.

Recently, the infamous Ground Zero mosque in lower Manhattan, New York City, opened its doors to the community. While it seemed as though the controversial house of worship was steadily beginning to work toward its lofty goal of creating a massive, 10-story community center, a major dispute over back rent may lead to eviction.

According to reports, the mosque’s developers purportedly owe a large sum of money in back rent. Con Edison, the primary company that provides electricity to New York City and its surrounding localities, is giving the developers an ultimatum: Either pay the $1.7 million they owe in back rent or their lease will be terminated and the property will be seized.

The developers of the proposed Park51 community center have what the New York Post calls an “unusual, uneasy alliance” with Con Ed in that the two parties share ownership of the site on which the worship center is to be built. The Post explains:

The utility owns a former substation on the western half of the property, at 51 Park Place, and the mosque developers own a five-story building on the eastern half. The buildings were connected years ago and used to house a Burlington Coat Factory store.

Park51, which leases the substation from Con Ed, wants the two buildings so it can knock both down and build a $100 million, 15-story community center.

Here’s where the root of the problem stems: In August, the electric company raised the rent from a more manageable $2,750 monthly rate — a sum that was set in stone back in 1972 — to $47,437 per month. Even more surprising than the actual jump in cost (although this is prime, NYC real estate, so high costs are to be expected) is that the rule change was retroactive, going back to July 21, 2008 (this is where the $1.7 million tab comes from).

The Park Place property was purchased back in 2009 by Park51 developers for $4.8 million. At the same time, the developers paid $700,000 for the substation lease. According to court papers, the Con Ed property is worth $10.7 million. The developers are opposed to the numbers that Con Ed has come up with and contend that they owe only $881,519 in back rent. The monthly rent, they say, should be $25,875 — not $47,437 — moving forward.

The utilities company drafted a letter that demanded the money by October 4 and threatened Park51 developers with eviction. But this isn’t the first time that the people behind the mosque, including lead developer Sharif El-Gamal, have faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles. So, they’re fighting back.

The developers subsequently responded with a lawsuit, calling the rent demands “outrageous” and lamenting the “wrongful termination.” Currently, a court order that was obtained by Gamal prevents Con Ed from ending the lease — a temporary measure until this is sorted out.

Currently, the Park51 web site and Twitter feed do not have any content addressing this dispute. According to the Associated Press, a court date has been scheduled for November.

Below, watch a recent PBS special about Gamal and his contentious mosque project:

Watch The Man Behind the Mosque on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

(H/T: The New York Post via Fox News)

Comments (110)

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  • BrerRabbit
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 2:08pm

    Not to worry, Saudi will come to the rescue.

    Report Post »  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 11:53pm

      Hopefully the noble socialist/capitalist demonstrators will come to their recue and pay the back rent.

      Report Post »  
    • Steve
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 2:49am

      Hopefully the noble socialist/capitalist demonstrators will come to their recue and pay the back rent.

      A pure example of a complete idiot.

      Report Post »  
    • 4truth2all
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 9:50am

      Hopefully there is still hope for you

      Report Post »  
    • bassist237
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 10:47am

      If they would stop funding terrorists around the world, they would have money.

      Report Post » bassist237  
    • Paul -Indiana
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 8:16pm

      If the Saudi’s come to the rescue, we should ask them why we are expected to react to the planned assasination of their Ambassador to the USA. Do they expect the dhimmi to fight their fight?

      Report Post »  
  • Robert-CA
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 2:05pm

    The Saudis will cover the bill .

    Report Post » Robert-CA  
    • C. Schwehr
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 2:16pm

      Proabably. The only way to remove this blight is to forbid it’s construction….but you New Yorkers have a pro-terrorist mayor in Bloomberg. Sucks to be a jew in New York!

      Report Post »  
  • Agnes
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 2:03pm

    I think that the Mayor himself should pick up the tab after all he is always symphathic toward Muslims and, he surely can affford it!

    Report Post »  
  • TJexcite
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 2:00pm

    More money was spent on OWS this weekend than the back rent. ConEd will be made the biggest bad guys in the world. From islamophobia to baby killers with pollution.

    Report Post » TJexcite  
    • wtd
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 8:32pm

      If the numbers ConEd provides are accurate, it appears that elGamal never paid a dime of rent since taking possession of the property. That’s a total breach of contract. The amount paid to secure the lease appears to imply elGamal entered a lease to purchase agreement. The renegotiation of the lease may in effect be addressing this breach (non-payment of rent) as well as elGamal’s failure to decide whether he was intending to purchase the property. The increased rental amount may be addressing the fact that elGamal never had the financial means nor intent to meet the ‘lease to purchase’ agreement with his own finances. Recall that the GZ mosque was recently denied monies from the 9/11 fund. el Gamal attempted to pull a fast one on ConEd and was caught with his pants down. AtlasShrugs has a post with links identifying a lengthy history of non-payment and broken financial contracts in el Gamal’s recent past. He is NOT to be trusted. ConEd should prevail in this case.

      Report Post »  
    • staggerlee32
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 8:16am

      @SIX6SIX
      Read Book of Revelation…. Satan loses…. what does that make you?

      Report Post » staggerlee32  
  • zoro51
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:57pm

    tell these MURDERING MUSLUMS F(& NO U WONT BUILD YOUR CRAP HERE DIE CULTISTS DIE strap a bomb to your SELVES n do the world a HUGE FAVOR GO TO HELL NOW. NO mosque will EVER be built near ground zero your god ALLAH IS FALSE YOUR DEAD N BURINED SO CALLED PROPHET MOHAMUDD IS FALSE leave NYC go BACK to your CAMELS n desert. YOU truely do NOT apreciate america for what shes given you.. youve abised her. RAPED HER. hate her. no GO TO HELL NOW NO PASS GO NO COLLECT 200 JUST DIE ALL OF YOU

    Report Post » zoro51  
    • ShyLow
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 2:10pm

      This monument to murder hurts islam in the end…It should be called the (We Murdered Thousands of People Just Down The Street mosque)

      Report Post » ShyLow  
    • attleboro
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 6:37pm

      You guys don’t really pay attention to facts, but good for you for crafting opinions anyway.

      Report Post »  
    • six6six
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 7:12pm

      Zoro, that was a very well thought our response. I expect you did very well in the 3rd grade.

      Report Post »  
    • staggerlee32
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 8:17am

      @SIX6SIX
      Read Book of Revelation…. Satan loses…. what does that make you?

      Report Post » staggerlee32  
  • Secessionista
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:57pm

    Maybe the OWS crowd can picket these muslim big spenders?

    Report Post » Secessionista  
  • the hawk
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:42pm

    At least theres some good news coming from NewYork !

    Report Post »  
  • capitalismrocks
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:42pm

    That’s a little overboard – now your making statement that border on how they view Jews – as pigs, as non-humans.

    The Muslims who follow the mohammud teaching – about deceit, lies, subterfuge, and killing… they are the problem… Not all Muslims go down that route, some just want to live their lives and live with others…. but you do have those Muslims that stay silent and by doing so, they condone the actions of the extremists.

    Even Christianity had its brutal times, like Stoning and such…. but Christianity shed the brutal parts of its views centuries ago… Islam hasn’t “grown up” and is not ready for the modern world. Islam wants to follow its own course – well then it needs to stay in the Middle East then. If it wants to be a part of the modern world, then it needs to shed its brutal and intolerance parts of its views and understand that to be a part of the outside world, to be in Europe, Asia and the United States, Islam needs to live side by side will all non-Islam parties and understand that their ways have to be more open and less extreme.

    Report Post » capitalismrocks  
  • TelepromoterNChief
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:34pm

    This mosque is just too big to fail.
    I’m sure they will get a waiver along with a generous donation from Obam…uh…someone anonymous.

    Report Post »  
    • Bill Rowland
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 4:25pm

      Maybe a green energy/green jobs loan guarentee?

      OMG – Psalm 109:8

      Report Post »  
    • Darla_K
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 8:55pm

      Obummer is probably giving them tax payer money right now.

      Report Post » Darla_K  
  • Gamaliel
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:26pm

    Something tells me ConEd will be set up as the bad guys here. They’ll be accused of “corporate greed” and the “this is what democracy looks like” goons will target them.

    Report Post »  
  • banjarmon
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:23pm

    I learned all I need to know about muslims and islam on 9-11!!!!!

    Report Post » banjarmon  
  • broker0101
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:12pm

    Federal Stimulous money will find it’s way to rescue this project . Guaranteed.

    Report Post » broker0101  
  • likwidlizard
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:09pm

    This is GREAT!!! Boot them out and implode the building that same day. The slimies think everyone is supposed to kiss their *ss but they can’t pay their bills. Hey slimies, go get a tent.

    Report Post » likwidlizard  
  • Whistleblower
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:08pm

    This is a must read

    Patrick Fitzgerald: Intrepid Crime Fighter? Or, Politically-Driven Leaker? Series Summary (Part 10)

    http://illinoispaytoplay.com/

    Report Post »  
  • 13th Imam
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:07pm

    I smell “Bailout by Barry”

    Watch for some of Barry’s Stash to be mysteriously donated by Spooky Dude? or the DEMOCRAT Party and their Base, the American Nazi Party & American Communist Party & The PEE Party & New Black Panthers

    Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • The Bushmaster
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:05pm

    Somehow, I no longer hate paying my elec bill! Way to go Con Ed

    Report Post »  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:02pm

    Thank YOU, JESUS. We ask YOUR HELP AND INTERVENTION in getting ALL “mosquetos” or “mosquetones” OUT OF AMERICA~

    We pray in YOUR name, amen.

    Report Post »  
  • CatB
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:01pm

    The Church that was across the street from the World Trade Center has yet to be rebuilt and must relocate.

    Report Post »  
    • jcizarter
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:08pm

      NY is just like Egypt, hating on christians and jews, but bending over backwards for the mooselimbs.

      Report Post » jcizarter  
  • jaylew
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:58pm

    Where there are Muslims…..anywhere on earth and the last time I checked that includes NYC…..but where there are Muslims….there is sure to be insolvency…..or in street terms “brokeness”…..the entire faith only flourishes where there is financial misery. The Saudi Arabian sheiks might have loot….but rest assured…they aren’t very good Muslims…they do whatever they want to do with whoever they want to do “it” with…..but at the “front line” level….Islam requires brokeness amongst its general herd. Otherwise the so-called sins of getting ahead and competing in the world might usurp the entire sham of Islam. If regular Joes or Kathys like you and I owed Con Ed over a million dollars do you think they would leave the lights on? Exactly. Illustrative of the religion itself though is the following observation….what kind of “beacon” in the planetary scheme do we really think Islam really is…if it can‘t even pay it’s own rent or keep the lights on in it’s own rented buildings? Sand and Camels and Goat herds and more sand…are just about the only things these people can keep minimally operating…and oh…don’t forget Opium Poppy farms….that too.

    Report Post » jaylew  
  • barber2
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:56pm

    Probably be another example of not following the old rules that made us a successful society. You know, the old rules that said that you PAID your bills. In this New World of bailouts and irresponsibility, these are no rules. Chaos to follow. Am sure these dudes will just game the system like all of the others who are so bent on destroying America. Their intentions are obvious.

    Report Post »  
  • getourcountryback
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:56pm

    Good! Now if we could cancel the leases (visas) of the pieces of crap that come here to educate themselves, enjoy our freedoms and then turn around and demand that we treat them as a special class we would be well on our way to restoring some kind of pride in this country.

    Report Post »  
    • abbygirl1994
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 1:13pm

      Does that include the American’s who are “Occupying” all over the country?? I mean speak of unAmerican! I wouldn’t say that they are exactly first class citizens either.. and those behind them need to leave also to socialized countries where they will be happy.. those that have their millions and billions stashed away.. and sit back and let the misfits of the country do their dirty work..

      Report Post » abbygirl1994  
  • Drakkhanlord
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:53pm

    Get all the dam mosques out of America …Want to worship sharia …get the fux out…Dont need any more reigious crazy sobs…have enough already.

    Report Post » Drakkhanlord  
    • Netsurfer2
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 2:39pm

      Well said! I’m sick and tired of them pushing their ways on us!

      Report Post » Netsurfer2  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:50pm

    Figures the courts would stop the lawful eviction of a group of radicals who owe past due rents to the lawful owners. Mr Obama’s all seeing hand is at work once again.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • fflsuun
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:57pm

      It’s very ironic that the money that we have been paying for fuel for years, TRILLIONS and TRILLIONS, will be used by the terrorist groups to make this trophy to terrorism work. The Hate Filled political system that is building this is despicable!

      Report Post » fflsuun  
  • nohussein
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:47pm

    demolish the building and turn it into a pork processing plant, yummy.

    Report Post » nohussein  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on October 16, 2011 at 12:46pm

    I hope the system works and they get kicked out. Sort of doubt it…some fool will come to their aid…Bloomberg?

    Report Post » SamIamTwo  
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