'Ground Zero Mosque' Will Be Ultra Luxury Condos Instead

Sept. 29, 2015 — It was a proposed project that sparked political controversy and international debate. Manhattan developer Sharif El-Gamal wanted to build a 15-story Islamic cultural center and mosque at 45 Park Place, just two blocks north of where the World Trade Center towers once stood. Because of the heated reaction, El-Gamal opted to scrap those plans four years ago. Now the developer is back with a project that caters more to the city's vibe: a 70-story condo, complete with amenities that rival those offered by a five-star hotel. According to Bloomberg Business, "El-Gamal's Soho Properties has proposed a 667-foot (203-meter) condominium tower at lower Manhattan's 45 Park Place. The glass skyscraper, which has yet to break ground, will include at least 15 full-floor units of 3,200 to 3,700 square feet (297 to 344 square meters), and average prices higher than $3,000 a square foot." More good news for those multimillionaire buyers who make up the ultra luxury market.

Proposed condo for 45 Park Place/El-Gamal's Soho Properties