Islamic Center of Naperville Completes First Phase of New Mosque Complex
As of December 15, the mosque is fully functional, Islamic Center of Naperville President Anees Rahman confirmed. The center held a private soft opening for its community members, with plans for a broader event in mid-January, Chicago Tribune reported on Friday.
Rahman noted this upcoming gathering would welcome local residents, homeowner associations, first responders, city officials, and other community stakeholders.
Rahman expressed excitement about the project's progress, stating, "Everybody's very excited. I'm very excited. You know, as the president of ICN, I haven’t taken a vacation in a couple years. So I’m actually taking the vacation now that [the mosque] is officially open.”
Construction on the mosque began in September 2022.
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Last weekend, ICN commemorated the opening with a prayer service, an event Rahman described as “pretty overwhelming,” noting the large turnout of attendees.
The mosque represents just the first step in a long-term development plan for the site, which spans 13.3 acres at 3540 248th Avenue in southwest Naperville.
Future phases aim to include a school, multipurpose hall, gymnasium, and additional mosque expansions. While the original timeline envisioned a 40-year completion schedule, delays in labor and material availability during phase one have created uncertainties about the project's overall timeline.
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Rahman explained that subsequent phases could take anywhere from five to ten years to commence, largely depending on financial factors and the repayment of costs from the initial construction. “We might be able to do it a bit earlier,” Rahman stated, “but it all is going to depend on financials and how quickly we pay off phase one.”
Source: Agencies
