So far, no architect has been appointed for the center, and these images play more of an advertising role, demonstrating the intentions of developers to build "just another community center", of which there are many in Manhattan. Despite the fact that in the discussions that erupted around this project, it was called "the mosque at the Zero level", referring to the location of the destroyed World Trade Center, this is not entirely true. At least the initiators of the construction state that there will be no mosque there, there will be only a two-tiered prayer hall in the underground part of the building. In addition, the construction site is located two blocks north of the site of the September 11, 2001 tragedy, that is, the Park 51 community center, named after its address, will not be visible from there.
The very solution of the project is emphasized modern: the curvilinear forms of the facade vaguely resemble the musharabiya lattices characteristic of Islamic architecture, but nothing more. In general, this is a bright building, open to the outside space, flooded with sunlight in the renderings. It will be a narrow 16-storey tower, 4 floors of which will be occupied by a fitness center, another floor will be used for a kindergarten, exhibition halls, artists' workshops, a restaurant, a school of culinary arts, etc. will be opened there. memorial to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attack. All these institutions will be designed for people of any religion and any nationality. Park 51 developer Sharif al-Gamal copied the "business model" of the future development from the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan, of which he is a member.
However, neither the board of directors has been appointed, nor has the fundraising begun (the budget will be $ 120-140 million). An architect has not even been chosen yet (Soma Architects were attracted to the project only because they are neighbors of al-Gamal's office), and no one knows now how this community center will look like as a result: with a favorable development of events, construction will begin no earlier than in three years.
