Comment

Manhattan Community Board Endorses Mosque Near Ground Zero

73
Gus5/26/2010 11:06:30 am PDT

It’s actually not going to be a Mosque anyway. It’s going to be more of a Muslim community center. This is a description from Cordoba House - New York City %P% Cordoba:

Why the Cordoba House?

Cordoba House is a Muslim-led project which will build a world-class facility that promotes tolerance, reflecting the rich diversity of New York City. The center will be community-driven, serving as a platform for inter-community gatherings and cooperation at all levels, providing a space for all New Yorkers to enjoy.

This proposed project is about promoting integration, tolerance of difference and community cohesion through arts and culture. Cordoba House will provide a place where individuals, regardless of their backgrounds, will find a center of learning, art and culture; and most importantly, a center guided by Islamic values in their truest form - compassion, generosity, and respect for all.

The site will contain tremendous amounts of resources that otherwise would not exist in Lower Manhattan; a 500-seat auditorium, swimming pool, art exhibition spaces, bookstores, restaurants - all these services would form a cultural nexus for a region of New York City that, as it continues to grow, requires the sort of hub that Cordoba House will provide.

I’m seeking architectural information but can’t locate it yet. If this is to open next year and is going in front of a landmark commission it doesn’t sound like a new structure. It will be a remodel to an existing 13 story building. Since it is going in front of landmark that typically means they won’t be able to do many modification to the building facade.