Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Could "Ground Zero Mosque" Move To St. Vincent's?
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 19, 2010
Modified Dec 19, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 19, 2010
Modified Dec 19, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
So, remember that whole "Ground Zero Mosque" hullabaloo from last summer, which spurred a polarizing debate about a proposed Islamic community center for lower Manhattan that wasn't actually at Ground Zero? Newt Gingrich once said it was, "designed to undermine and destroy our civilization," while Mayor Bloomberg said, "I think it's fair to say that the mosque as an issue goes away on November 3 [the day after election day]." While it's pretty obvious Bloomberg was right, Gingrich and his fellow anti-mosque contingent may be happy to learn that the Saudi royal family is feeling out officials and community leaders about a plan to move the mosque to the West Village...to the shuttered St. Vincent's Medical Center.
Attorney Dudley Gaffin is claiming that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has started making inquiries into buying the St. Vincent's plot of land, and building the mosque on part of the site. Interestingly, Gaffin claims Abdullah would also save the hospital, reopening most of the units that closed after the hospital shutdown last spring. Sources tell the Post that Gaffin, a trial lawyer and senior partner in Gaffin & Mayo, has turned into a one-man representative for the royals: "He's asking what it would take to put in a bid. He says the king wants to do this as a p.r. move -- to save the hospital and move the mosque away from the World Trade Center site. He wants to show that Muslims can do good works," said one community leader who did not want to be identified.
The whole project would cost more than $300 million, and the mosque and cultural center would likely be built in a space now occupied by a shuttered nursing facility on 12th Street, just east of Seventh Avenue. But the whole thing is shrouded in secrecy thus far: sources claimed Gaffin has spoken with Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, but reps for both denied it. Another source, a politically connected lawyer, told the Post that, "[Gaffin is] talking about the Saudis...I don't know if any conversations have taken place [with them]." Abdullah, who is currently in NYC recuperating from back surgery, previously said he would not get involved with the Ground Zero mosque.
Tagged
dudley gaffin
ground zero mosque
king abdullah
mosque
saudi arabia
st vincent's
west village
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man charged with hate crime at Jewish-owned bagel shop displaying Israeli flags
Prosecutors say the 22-year-old damaged property outside the Fresh Meadows shop twice in May.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 6:07 p.m. ET
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
News
MTA train yards are in such bad shape plants are growing out of the roof, watchdog says
In some cases, the damage was “clearly not recent."
By
Stephen Nessen
High-ranking NYC officials to testify in ex-buildings boss Eric Ulrich's corruption trial
By
David Brand
Mamdani launches new team to help NYers keep SNAP, Medicaid benefits
By
Caroline Lewis
Riders at 53rd St. station where man was fatally shot say they worry about gun violence
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .