A permanent home for our community in Midtown Manhattan.
Since 1992, Masjid Ar-Rahman has been serving the Muslim community at 13–15 West 29th Street in Manhattan New York. Our congregation has outgrown its space, and we are working toward a permanent home for worship, education, and community.
From rented rooms to a permanent masjid
More than three decades of serving Muslims who live, work, and travel through Midtown Manhattan.
Jumu’ah prayers begin
The community starts by privately holding congregational Jumu’ah prayers, renting various venues across Manhattan.
Ar-Rahman Foundation Inc. is established
The Foundation is formed under New York’s Not-For-Profit Corporation Laws, offering daily prayers, religious seminars, and Ramadan Iftaar services.
A development offer
A local developer offers to purchase the Foundation’s air rights, promising a new building in exchange.
Premises secured, and a setback
The Foundation purchases its premises at 13 & 15 West 29th Street. The same year, the developer goes bankrupt and the project stalls.
Negotiations resume
An agreement is reached with the lender to sell the 29th Street properties, and the Foundation plans a move to a larger building in Midtown.
Building our permanent home
With three Jumu’ah services every Friday and growing attendance, the community is working toward a permanent home at 11 West 34th Street, across from the Empire State Building.
About Ar-Rahman Foundation
Ar-Rahman Foundation Inc., established in June 1992 under New York’s Not-For-Profit Corporation Laws, began its journey by privately holding congregational Jumuah prayers in the late 1980s. Initially renting various venues, the Foundation purchased its premises at 13 & 15 West 29th Street, New York, NY, in 2020. These buildings, encompassing 15,000 sqft, house residential and commercial units and have the potential for expansion through 35,000 sqft of unused air rights. However, due to structural limitations, any expansion would require demolishing the existing buildings, a project deemed financially prohibitive.
Since its inception, the Foundation has conducted daily prayers, religious seminars, and Ramadan Iftaar services, which have grown significantly in attendance. The current facilities are now insufficient, forcing the congregation to consider relocation. In 2018, a local developer offered to purchase the Foundation’s air rights, promising a new building in exchange. Unfortunately, the developer went bankrupt in 2020, stalling the project.
In 2022, negotiations resumed with the lender who foreclosed on the developer’s assets, culminating in an agreement to sell the Foundation’s properties for $43 million—well above their appraised value of $17 million. The Foundation planned to relocate to a 150,000 sqft building at 229 W. 36th Street, New York, NY, purchased for $35 million. This new facility would include a Halal food court, office space, a masjid, and a hostel. However, the buyer for the 29th Street property has withdrawn, citing financial difficulties due to delays in transaction approval by the NY Attorney General’s Office.
Despite this setback, the Foundation remains committed to purchasing the 36th Street property and is exploring alternative plans, including maintaining the current premises. The new building’s purchase is at a favorable price of $233 per sqft, significantly below market averages, and renovation costs are estimated at $7 million. The Foundation has secured a soft commitment from a local developer to fund the renovation, with repayment contingent on future cash flow generation. To proceed, an equity injection of $18 million is required.
Be part of this blessed journey.
Every gift brings us closer to a permanent center of prayer, learning, and service in Midtown. Donate today and invest in a lasting legacy of Sadaqah Jariyah, Insha’Allah.
