With fundraising efforts apparently growing in success, the
South Valley Islamic Community renewed its efforts this week to
build a mosque and community center in San Martin.
With fundraising efforts apparently growing in success, the South Valley Islamic Community renewed its efforts this week to build a mosque and community center in San Martin.
The community, whose membership includes about 75 Muslim families in southern Santa Clara and northern San Benito counties, submitted building permit applications for the project in 2007. However, due to the souring economy, the group was unable to begin construction and allowed the permits to expire.
But fundraising has picked up in recent months, and the group is prepared again to open a permanent house of worship, according to Karen Musa of the SVIC. Plans for the Cordoba Center, which will be developed near the intersection of Monterey Road and California Avenue, include two structures each about 2,500 square feet in size – one for a mosque and one to serve as a multi-purpose community room.
They plan to build structures that will accommodate up to 200 people. Musa said Friday that she and other representatives of SVIC planned to submit applications to Santa Clara County planning staff this week.
The 15-acre property, after construction of the mosque and community center, will still consist of mostly open space, and the SVIC wants to include a Muslim cemetery which will likely occupy “a couple acres” at the site. The SVIC purchased the property a couple of years ago. The project will serve Muslims throughout the southern part of the valley, from south San Jose to Hollister, Musa said.
SVIC held a community open house to discuss the Cordoba Center at the San Martin Lions Club Sunday. They plan to hold another one in the spring or summer of next year, Musa said.
