Article updated: 6/13/2012 11:28 AM

Once-approved Willowbrook mosque now in peril

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County officials say construction of a planned 47,000-square-foot mosque along 91st Street near Willowbrook must begin by June 22, otherwise the Muslim Educational and Cultural Center will lose its permit for the project. A house sitting there must first be demolished.

Daniel White | Staff Photographer

County officials say construction of a planned 47,000-square-foot mosque along 91st Street near Willowbrook must begin by June 22, otherwise the Muslim Educational and Cultural Center will lose its permit for the project. A house sitting there must first be demolished.

Daniel White | Staff Photographer

County officials say construction of a planned 47,000-square-foot mosque along 91st Street near Willowbrook must begin by June 22, otherwise the Muslim Educational and Cultural Center will lose its permit for the project. A house sitting there must first be demolished.

Daniel White | Staff Photographer

The Muslim Educational and Cultural Center plans to build a 47,000-square-foot mosque along 91st Street near Willowbrook. But the project must begin by June 22, county officials said, after they refused to grant a one-month extension.

Artist's rendering courtesy Muslim Educational and

About this Article

A Muslim group planning to build a mosque near Willowbrook has less than 10 days to demolish an existing single family home on site and begin the new construction — otherwise the project is a no-go. That's because a conditional use permit approved by the county board is set to expire, and per county rules, construction must begin in that time period. On Tuesday, the board refused to grant another extension of the conditional use that the group says would have allowed them more time to secure building permits and begin erection of the 47,000-square-foot mosque on almost 5 acres along 91st Street near Route 83.