Mosque construction in Tennessee delayed after lack of contractors bidding on job

The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro has extended the deadline for bids to build its new center that has been the target of vandalism and a lawsuit opposing the construction.

Mosque leaders told The Tennessean that contractors haven’t been interested in the project, and the August target date has been extended. The center also opened up bidding to contractors outside the state.

“It’s not a secret that we could not get the bids that we would hope to get,” said Saleh Sbenaty, a member of the mosque planning committee. “That can be for various reasons. Some contractors are busy . and sometimes you find a contractor who really would like to get the job who is feeling some pressure from the community.”

The mosque is trying to build a bigger place of worship, but arsonists last year torched construction equipment that was being used to prepare the grounds. Police were also investigating a bomb threat received last week.

Rutherford County’s approval of the plan to build the new mosque led to a lawsuit by a group of residents seeking to stop construction. A judge ruled that the Islamic center has a right to build, but the mood around the project is contributing to the latest delay.

“We did not anticipate this delay,” Sbenaty said. “We’re not really in a big hurry, but we would like to start before the cold, rainy seasons are here.”

The mosque leaders are focusing on choosing a contractor from the handful who put in bids and a choice could be made by the end of the month. Sbenaty said they hope to open the 12,000-square-foot first phase about a year from now in time for the center’s observances of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Fellow board member Essam Fathy said they are extending the bidding deadline and have accepted bids from a wider area.

Fathy said one contractor backed out of the bidding process after describing pressure inside his church.

“He was interested and then he actually said, ‘You know what, it’s going to be tough for me to do this job. . The pastor is talking about your outfit almost every week, and it would be very hard for me to take the job,’” Fathy said.

Vandalism at the site was also deterring some businesses. Fathy said security cameras will be installed, but contractors were concerned about security.

“Due to what has occurred out there, there are probably a lot of contractors who don’t want to take that risk,” said Kent Ayer, vice president of operations at TDK Construction, a Murfreesboro-based apartment builder that is not involved with the mosque.

Dow Smith, who owns a Smyrna-based contracting company, said typically subcontractors are eager for work when he builds churches, health care facilities and commercial projects. He was not contacted to bid on the mosque.

He said the difficulty in getting bids must be a result of stigma attached to the mosque. “That really saddens me . that there’s been that much resentment and unfounded fear,” Smith said.

The plan for the center calls for an indoor pool, a gym, classrooms and offices totaling almost 53,000 square feet. The 15-acre site will also include a playground, a pavilion, sports fields and a basketball/tennis court.

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