Nadav,
I could not have said it better. I agree entirely with what you have written.
Blog Post
Park51—The World's First LEED Mosque?
The first mosque, in the world according to an article in The Daily Green, attempting LEED certification could be located in Lower Manhattan—in proximity of “Ground Zero”—the hallowed ground of the Twin Towers and 9/11. The proposed location of the new community center and mosque, Park51, has sparked controversy; some argue the location of Park51 is disrespectful. It should also be noted that Lower Manhattan is not very large and most buildings are in proximity to Ground Zero. And it’s difficult not to be excited about a project pursuing LEED certification, especially a community center.
Religious freedom is an important tenet of these United States—it should apply to all religions, in any part of America, even if the location is controversial. That’s particularly true for a building that, as noted above, may be better called a community center than the “mosque” label that it’s been tagged with. According to the Park51 website, the community center will be “dedicated to pluralism, service, arts and culture, education and empowerment, appreciation for our city and a deep respect for our planet.”
Park51 has the potential to serve as a reminder of the distinct separation between the Muslim community and Islamic extremists—shedding light on issues that are often shrouded in misinformation—all while saving energy and creating a sustainable public space.
The building is owned by Soho Properties, a well-established New York company whose chief executive officer, Sharif El-Gamal, has been working with this project for 4 years. In an interview with altmuslim.com Sharif El-Gamal said, “Moving forward, I hope and pray the dialogue reaches more New Yorkers and Americans. People have concerns and questions, and we want to answer them in a meaningful way, in a way that lets people know who we really are, what we want to do for the city and how they can be a part of Park51. We have to appeal to the undecided, and change the conversation about Muslims in America. Because of that, we’re offering an open door.” But please, make it a revolving door (to save energy), and no smoking within 25 feet—this is supposed to be a LEED building, after all.
For more information:www.park51.org
Published August 24, 2010 Permalink Citation
(2010, August 24). Park51—The World's First LEED Mosque?. Retrieved from https://www.buildinggreen.com/blog/park51—-worlds-first-leed-mosque
Comments
Nadav, I could not have said
Your words are true, to perpe
Your words are true, to perpetrate polarization is not a peaceful road. To enter a traumatized place such as ground zero, with a “ I am here, get over it attitude “ would in my view cause a set back.
Respect for one another is always, taking the high road. Thanks for seeing the way of a peace maker.
LEED certification for the co
LEED certification for the community center would be great ... but this building will not be the first energy efficient structure housing an Islamic prayer space - others exist in the Middle East already. Similarly, this will not be the first building with such a prayer space near "ground zero." There are already two mosques in the immediate area - and they predate the attack on 9/11.
I DID lose a friend in the World Trade Center that day, and see no reason not to go forward with the community center now. We are talking about a multi-purpose facility with a prayer space -- think of an airport or hospital with a chapel. That is what is proposed, and the center is not intended only to serve Muslims, but the community around it. That Lower Manhattan community has too few recreational and cultural facilities despite a growing resident population, so the proposed structure makes a contribution to the whole area.
That it will be LEED certified only makes a good idea and an needed reuse of scarce building space all the better.
The tragedy of 9/11 was devas
The tragedy of 9/11 was devastating, and many of us still carry the pain, fear, and ongoing burden of its aftermath. In addition to the human casualties, there is the casualty of human connection--the ongoing tendency on both sides to polarize and drive people apart rather than to bring them together. It would be unfortunate to perpetuate that kind of polarization, so regardless of what is decided about this particular project, finding ways to bring people of all religions and backgrounds together in various ways feels important to me.
I did not loose a loved one a
I did not loose a loved one at the 911 event, or know anyone that did. But I still remember being paralized by what I herd and saw that day from as far away as Kentucky. The towers, the impact, explosion and fire, people jumping, frantic reporting, wanting to help but couldn't, the towers falling, pepole running, the look of shock on faces, the dust covering everyone near, the lack of words, the crying, and then the images from muslim nations celebrateing by dancing in the streets and burning our flag, these I still remember and it has caused me to pause even while writing this. I can only imagine how it still feels to those that were there, or to who lost someone that day. Lets hear some compassion for the pepole that had to endure this and still endures it everyday they visit that place, lets ask them if a mosque could be built there at this time or should we wait a little longer.
Add new comment
To post a comment, you need to register for a BuildingGreen Basic membership (free) or login to your existing profile.