Islamic group threatens lawsuit against Hilliard over rejected cultural center development
HILLIARD, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Noor Islamic Cultural Center bought a 220,000 sq. ft. office building with big plans to enhance the fabric of the Hilliard community.
Those plans have been on hold as the proposal for the building has not passed Hilliard zoning approval, and now Noor is threatening legal action. The sticking point is space for religious activities, prayer, and gathering.
"It's an empty building,” Hilliard City Councilmember Les Carrier said. “We've got a group that wants to make something really nice, wants to be supportive of children, the growth and development and all kinds of things that go with that. I know that's a great outcome, an out-of-the-box outcome."
Carrier has been one of the project’s supporters on the council.
"Our comprehensive plan is basically designed where the landowner has to bring us tax revenue and large amounts in certain areas before there will be approval for development and I think that's wrong,” he said. “I think it's fundamentally wrong.”
Part of the building, which Noor said is only about 20,000 sq. ft. or 9% of the building's space, would be designated for religious activities and thus would not generate the same tax revenue for the city if it were office space.
Hilliard released a statement that said in part: "The current permitted use of the 5550 Britton Parkway property - office - is the same today as it was when Noor's holding entity bought it. No rights have been taken from Noor."
Monday night a group of angry citizens met at City Hall to let leaders know they were disappointed.
"We love our city,” Noor Board of Directors Chairman Ronney Abaza said. “We don't want to have to sue our city to assert our rights, but the message that we are here tonight to make on behalf of our community is that we're willing to go all the way if we have to. We're not giving up.”
"This empty building that's been there for 18 months with no tenants, no tax revenue, it's still there and it's still empty,” Abaza added. “We have a list of tenants ready to come in if our proposal would have been accepted."
The group believes the city is suppressing its religious freedoms and exercising government overreach. Noor representatives have not had conversations or negotiations with the city since a vote on Nov. 12.
"Why would we reach out to someone who's told us that ‘we are not negotiating?’” Abaza said. “'We're not willing to budge and this is it’ and unfortunately, the loser is the city of Hilliard and the residents of Hilliard.”
A statement from the City of Hilliard said it has been negotiating in good faith. The statement said, "Unfortunately there has been significant misinformation spread concerning this proposal and the City's efforts to work with the applicant. Hilliard leaders negotiated diligently with Noor for the past 10 months and have worked hard to accommodate their evolving plans, including allowing up to 56,000 sq. ft. for school and event space that could be used for religious and nonreligious activities. These efforts to accommodate were rejected by the applicant.”
Noor leaders Abaza and Director Fadi Suleiman said Monday that is not the case.
"The response has always been, ‘This is the position of the city’ and it does not, it's not going to change,” Abaza said. “They are adult enough to know what the next steps should be if they really want to sit down and work through this. The door is always open."
Noor leaders said they are already drawing up paperwork for litigation against Hilliard, but they would like to avoid it if possible.
"We're hopeful that the city council will come to its senses and understand that it's not in the interest of the city and it's not worth it in terms of taxpayer dollars,” Abaza said. “We're not giving up. We're not going to sell this building and leave town like the previous owner did. We are not going to lay down and allow anyone to abuse us and treat us unfairly.”
Carrier understands the group’s frustration and would like to find a solution before the matter ends up in court.
"We didn't treat them very well,” he said. “From what I understand, we told them no and then didn't tell them what. The only thing we said is it's zoned this and that's what it's going to be. I think it's on us as leaders and us as a city personnel to help them be successful, because that makes us successful.”