Many Oppose New Mosque

July 25, 2007

Author: KHALIL E. HACHEM

Source: The Ann-Arbor News

http://www.mlive.com/news/annarbornews/index.ssf?/base/news-23/1185374569236560.xml&coll=2

A hearing on a proposed mosque along Ellsworth Road in Ypsilanti Township drew more than 150 people Tuesday, with most of them opposing the project.

"This is the wrong location for it,'' said Peter Williamson, who objected to the size of the project. "I would want the Muslim community to enjoy it, but it does not fit in the neighborhood.''

The Hidaya Muslim Community Association is proposing an 85,770-square-foot-community center on seven acres along Ellsworth Road between Golfside and Hewitt. The project includes a mosque, a recreation facility, an educational center and 264 parking spaces, said Khaled Nehlawi, who is in charge of construction and lives in the neighborhood.