On July 30, 2015, Tysons Corner, Virginia, known for high-end shopping malls, corporate headquarters and mega churches, became the new permanent home to the McLean Islamic Center.
Mohsin Alikhan, the President of McLean Islamic Center (MIC), informed the community that MIC settled the contract on the property at Jarrett Valley Drive with a payment of $2.6 million to the seller.
A fundraising campaign started in April 2014 included the appeal to donate $13,000 for each prayer space. “[Congratulations] to all who participated monetary and non-monetarily in this historical effort, which was accomplished in the short period of 15 months to establish the first masjid in Tysons Corner, VA,” he stated. He expressed gratefulness to Allah for this special gift.
The 1.55-acre site was the former home of the Berea Church located on the very edge of Tyson's Corner, immediately off the exit ramp from Dulles International Airport (IAD) Access Road (Route 267).
This location will serve Muslims working and living in the area. Tysons is the 12th largest employment center in the United States. There are plans to bus worshippers in from corporate buildings for Jummah prayers via two 16-passenger vans shuttle service.
The new center is also near the Tyson’s West Metro Station, at the crossing of Route 7 and the Dulles Toll Road.
Renovations to the Jarrett Valley property will include new flooring and carpeting as well as heating and air conditioning equipment. Bringing the building up to code will require fire suppression, landscaping and roof repairs. There are no plans to expand the building.
Currently MIC leases a commercial space in downtown McLean for its vibrant community. The center has grown since its founding seven years ago. In the seven years that MIC was in that location, they conducted themselves with civility. There were zero complaints from neighbors and no excessive noise, stated the landlord of the property, Khalid Akhter.
The current space is no longer able to meet the community’s needs. The center was convening for Taraweeh at a location on Spring Hill Rd during Ramadan. This space accommodates 300+ people and had ample parking.
The Board of Zoning Appeals of the Fairfax County (BZA) heard a lengthy appeal on June 10, 2015 at the Fairfax County Government Center. Jaguars and taxi cabs were parked in the visitor’s parking lot. The hallways of the courtly building had a steady stream of women in hijab, mothers with toddlers and the youth and elders of the McLean community. The hearing was attended by a large number of the congregation and supporters from as far away as New York City. Several interfaith partners joined in testifying in front of the zoning board, including Rabbi Jeffrey Saxe of Temple Rodef Shalom. MIC and the temple engage in several service projects throughout the year.
The Home Owners Association of the Carrington development and neighbors had come out in large numbers to present their concerns with traffic issues and parking. Currently there are 50 parking spaces on the Jarrett valley property. An additional 42 parking spaces will be added in Phase two of the MIC plan for the property.
Tahir Butt and Shahid Khan, residents of Carrington Homes, a neighborhood near the new property, were excited about the masjid moving so close to home.
Mehrunissa,of Sterling, VA, made dua in the audience at the hearing. She attends Dr Alvi’s Quran classes at MIC every Friday night. She watched as the MIC committed to avoid parking in the neighborhood in an extremely detailed parking management plan presented to the BZA, which included the appointment of a parking coordinator who would be available to the HOA to address complaints immediately. The attorney representing the Islamic Center also shared that MIC would not hold food service at the center during Ramadan.
MIC commissioned a team of professionals to complete the process including AIC, Inc. (Architects) Professional Design Group, Inc. (Civil Engineers), MCV associates (Transportation Engineers) and the Zoning attorneys at Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh, PC, who represented them at the hearing.
The Board of Zoning Appeals of the Fairfax County approved with a unanimous vote the establishment of the center. This news came as a pleasant surprise after 15 months of planning.
“We are thankful for your patience and support during the process. A number of difficulties were overcome by Allah's grace,” stated Alikhan.
A $475,000 Qardh-e-Hasana (loan without interest) is outstanding, that the community is hoping to pay off as soon as possible. The exact date for the first salah at the new masjid is yet to be announced. A number of steps including county requirements need to be completed before MIC can formally start operations in September 2015. [UPDATE: The community has settled and purchased the property, alhumdulillah -- 8/5/2015]
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