PA, USA: Silver Spring Township approves Ahmadiyya Muslim mosque

“We have all our religions. We have churches. The Jews have synagogues. The Muslims need a place to do their prayer.” [John Walker, project engineer]

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |  US Desk
Source & Credit: The Sentinel | April 29, 2010
By Becca Gregg | Sentinel Reporter

Silver Spring approves mosque
Silver Spring Township supervisors unanimously approved final development plans Wednesday night for the construction of a mosque by the Ahmadiyya Muslim community.

Set to be located at 7063 Wertzville Road, the two-story building will measure 30-by-30 feet in diameter for a total of about 900 square feet overall.

The seating capacity for the structure will be 140 people, said Project Engineer John Walker of the New Cumberland-based Hoover Engineers, allowing for growth over the next several years for the now 40-member Muslim community who belong to the mosque.


According to Project Manager Mazhar Malik, one floor of the mosque will be reserved exclusively for men, and the other for women.

In May of 2009, supervisors approved a conditional use application for the house of worship, to be built on 4.55 acres of rural/residential land. The property was purchased in 2006 for $1. Churches are permitted in that district, but only as a conditional use requiring special approval by supervisors.

“We have all our religions. We have churches. The Jews have synagogues. The Muslims need a place to do their prayer,” Walker said Wednesday, adding that all of the adjoining neighbors were in full support of the project.

According to Malik, construction on the site could begin in six months.


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