After a March 18 fire badly damaged the Timbuktu Islamic Center, the mosque’s leased space was suddenly unusable. In response, a nearby developer hit pause on work at his One45 project, clearing a lot so a large tent could go up and hundreds of worshippers would have a place to gather for Eid al‑Fitr services.
The blaze at the Timbuktu Islamic Center, located at 350 West 145th Street, forced congregants to find a temporary home for prayers. Leaders said they do not expect to return to the building for at least a month. Instead, hundreds turned out at the tent on the One45 site near Lenox Avenue to mark the end of Ramadan. Volunteers from local programs handed out dates and pastries, police were on hand to keep things running smoothly, and the mood leaned more grateful than grim.
Developer Bruce Teitelbaum, who has previously lent money to neighborhood institutions, said he halted construction so his Muslim neighbors could have a safe, covered space for the holiday rather than be scattered across the area. He called the day “proof that when you do the right thing everyone wins.” Those details were reported by amNewYork.
Developer pauses construction to host prayers
Teitelbaum delayed demolition at the One45 site so the congregation could use the cleared lot and large tent as a temporary worship space for Eid, a holiday that mosque leaders described as “very important” to the community. The move pulled together faith leaders, volunteers and local elected officials for a day of prayer, food and a rare moment of unity while the mosque remains out of commission.
One45’s fraught neighborhood history
The One45 proposal, a three‑building development that has been argued over for years on questions of scale and affordability, has long been a flashpoint in Harlem. Reporting by The City has detailed disputes with the National Action Network, while coverage in The Real Deal has tracked Teitelbaum’s efforts to shore up local support.
What comes next for the congregation
Organizers said the tent would remain up only temporarily and that repair and cleanup work at the Timbuktu Islamic Center will keep the congregation displaced for weeks. While the One45 site offered a lifeline for Eid, it is not a long term solution.
Teitelbaum has said he plans to pull permits and expects construction activity at One45 to restart in early summer. Congregants and neighbors say they will be watching closely as the mosque’s recovery and the project’s next phase move forward in tandem. Those next steps were described by amNewYork.
