Muslim group sues Yonkers over house’s landmark designation

YONKERS, N.Y. – A Muslim group is suing the city of Yonkers over a house that received landmark designation that it had purchased to turn into a mosque.

A lawyer for the Islamic Community Center for Mid-Westchester says the suit was filed Wednesday in federal court in Manhattan.

The organization bought the house last year. A neighbourhood group filed for it to receive the landmark designation, which the city approved in May. The designation means exterior changes must go through an approval process.

The Muslim group says the landmark decision was discriminatory. The suit asks for an injunction nullifying the designation.

Yonkers spokeswoman Christina Gilmartin says the group is welcome to build a mosque. She says members aren’t being discriminated against, they’re being asked to follow the same historic preservation rules as everyone else.