Owner of 1850s-era building, calendared by Landmarks in 1989, intends to redevelop site into thirteen- story mosque and community center. On August 3, 2010, Landmarks declined to designate as an individual landmark an 1850s-era building at 45 Park Place, two blocks north of the World Trade Center site. The five-story store-and-loft building reflects Italian Renaissance palazzo-style architecture and includes a ground-floor Corinthian colonnade, molded window surrounds, and second-floor balconets. Landmarks originally calendared the building in 1989.

The owner, SoHo Properties, purchased the property in order to demolish the building and develop a thirteen-story Muslim-led cultural center and mosque at the site, known as Park 51. Controversy has surrounded the proposed project, with opponents objecting to the siting of a mosque in close proximity to the World Trade Center site. The building was damaged by the landing gear of one of the airplanes in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. (read more…)