Will Planned Mosque Ever Open in Brookfield?

In spring of 2012, there was a lot of noise and controversy swirling around the proposal to build a 13,000-square-foot mosque on Pheasant Drive in Brookfield.

Today, the proposed site for the building remains vacant and quiet. Early on, leaders in the Islamic Society of Milwaukee had planned to begin construction in July 2012 and open the mosque this spring.

However, organizers delayed the groundbreaking to work with contractors and alter the plans for the building before moving forward, said Mushir Hassan, secretary on the Islamic Society of Milwaukee's board of directors. Hassan said contractors changed the interior support structure to all steel, rather than a wood and steel mix for structural integrity. 

Hassan said they also altered the parking lot layout as well, which required another round of city approvals.  

Hassan hopes the group will receive the final approvals for the plan in in a month or so, and begin construction in early summer. The mosque would open in spring of 2014.

Construction was to be completely fundraised by the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. Hassan said in 2012 that the at a single fundraising dinner, with some money coming from non-Muslims. 

Organizers of the mosque project faced opposition from some Brookfield and area residents on religious grounds. Although city officials continually said religion was a non-issue for approving the mosque and many residents stuck to concerns like traffic and noise, others plainly said they feared the presence of Islam in their community. 

"The controversy surrounding our proposal, and the way our group handled it really galvonized the community," Hassan said. "We also received several interfaith donations from local churches. It's been an excellent example of fellowship and brotherhood." 

Hassan also made it clear that the donations have come with no strings attached. He said the have not, and will not, accept donations from outside groups seeking to have some sort of influence or control in the mosque. 

"We are locally run, and locally governed," Hassan said. 

Hassan said the ISM would hold another round of fundraising once shovels hit the dirt when excitment is stirred once again for the project.