Museum Devoted To Islam Proposed In NYC

NEW YORK (AP) — The developer who once proposed a mosque and community center near ground zero now plans a museum devoted to Islam at the same site.

According to The New York Times (http://nyti.ms/1ksxlxz ), Sharif El-Gamal said through a spokesman he would build a three-story museum "dedicated to exploring the faith of Islam and its arts and culture."

He said in a statement that he has commissioned French architect Jean Nouvel to design that 5,000-square-foot museum. The building also would include a sanctuary for prayer services and community programs.

It was unclear how El-Gamal would fund the project.

Spokesman Hank Sheinkopf would only say that El-Gamal would initially finance it himself and hoped to find other benefactors.

No timetable for the project was given.