New Mosque Approved In Stamford At Site Of Former Social Club

STAMFORD, CT — Plans to convert an old building on Stamford's East Side into a mosque have been unanimously approved by the city's zoning board.

The board last week granted a special permit with several conditions, notably related to parking, to Rahmatul-Lil Alameen Mosque, Inc, a 501(c)(3) organization and the property owner of 80 Lockwood Ave.

Architect Peter Sikora filed the application on behalf of the property owner last fall.

The 4,760-square-foot building in the R-5 Zone was originally built as a firehouse in 1900.

Most recently, it was home to the Stamford Hellenic Association, a social club. The association sold the property to Nabi Mustaque last July for $1.3 million, Stamford property records show.

Interior renovations and aesthetic upgrades to the outside grounds are proposed. The "exterior bulk characteristics" of the building will not be changed, Sikora said in a description of the proposed plans.

The site has 29 self-parking spaces.

According to the conditions put in place by the Zoning Board, during major holidays or when larger-than-normal attendance is expected, staggered services will be held with valet parking for 44 vehicles.

Additionally, when valet parking is insufficient, the applicant will rent off-site parking. When parking strategies are insufficient as a whole, the mosque will hold services at an off-site location.

Before the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, the applicant must submit a final parking management plan and report on parking annually for the life of the building.

The mosque would have a seating capacity of 104.