By Mark Ambrogi
The Al Salam Foundation’s Islamic Life Center is no longer planned for the property on the south side of 146th Street between Ditch and Towne roads in Carmel.
Ashhar Madni, vice president of the board of trustees for Al Salam Foundation, said a neighborhood covenant restricts to building single family dwelling structure on that property, which is about 10 acres.
“The restrictive covenant was already in place when we purchased, but we were not made aware of it during the purchase,” Madni said. “The title insurance company missed it. We tried to reach out to the parties of the covenant to work out something, but it didn’t work.”
So Al Salam is selling the property, purchased more than two years ago.
“We are not scouting any sites yet,” Madni said. “We are focusing on selling the current one.”
Madni said he would prefer to put the Islamic Life Center on the northwest side of the Greater Indianapolis area.
“We are slightly disappointed, but not discouraged,” Madni said “We are very confident and optimistic about ILC.”
Madni said the purpose of the ILC is to “help establish faith among Muslims, encourage civic engagement and establish cordial, harmonious relationship with other faith communities.”
Al Salam, which serves the Muslim communities of Indianapolis, Carmel, Zionsville, Westfield and Noblesville, has held activities at a rented space on 9551 Valparaiso Ct. since 2012. Madni said it is not big enough for certain events.
