Sharif El-Gamal

El-Gamal was born in Brooklyn, New York{{cite news|title=Meet the 'Ground Zero Mosque' Developer|author=Dana Rubenstein|newspaper=The New York Observer|date=August 17, 2010|url=http://observer.com/2010/08/meet-the-ground-zero-mosque-developer/ |accessdate=September 12, 2010}} to an Egyptian Muslim father and a Roman Catholic mother of Polish descent on December 23, 1973.{{cite news|title=Sharif El-Gamal's, Owner of Ground Zero Building, Revelations|author=Asra Q. Nomani|newspaper=The Daily Beast|date=August 30, 2010|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/sharif-el-gamals-owner-of-ground-zero-building-revelations|accessdate=September 12, 2010}}

He lived in Brooklyn until age 9 when his mother died. He then followed his father to Liberia and Egypt where he attended the Schutz American School. El-Gamal returned to the United States for college, enrolling in various New York universities but eventually dropping out when he decided to stop pursuing formal education.{{cite news|title=Islamic Center Also Challenges a Young Builder|author=Anne Barnard and Christine Haughney |newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 27, 2010|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/27/nyregion/27build.html?_r=1&ref=sharif_el_gamal&pagewanted=all|accessdate=September 12, 2010}}

El-Gamal first entered real estate in the late 1990s as a residential sales broker but within his first year transitioned to commercial real estate sales. In 2002 he received his real estate broker's license.

According to the company's website, El-Gamal founded his real estate company Soho Properties in 2003 in order "to focus on commercial real estate capital markets, advisory and retail leasing."{{cite web|title=Soho Properties|publisher=Soho Properties|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061230063508/http://www.sohoproperties.com|archivedate=December 30, 2006|accessdate=September 12, 2010|url=http://www.sohoproperties.com}} El-Gamal's partners in the business are his brother, Sammy El-Gamal, and Nour Mousa.

In 2007, El-Gamal bought a six apartments building in the Harlem and Washington Heights neighborhoods of Manhattan. He managed additional properties in Chelsea and Harlem.

In July 2009, Soho Properties purchased property at 45–47 Park Place, located adjacent to the World Trade Center site.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/nyregion/09mosque.html|title=Muslim Prayers and Renewal Near Ground Zero|author=Blumenthal, Ralph|date=December 9, 2009|accessdate=September 12, 2010|work=The New York Times}}

In November 2009, Soho Properties purchased a 12-story office building located at 31 West 27th Street for $45.7 million. El-Gamal said, "We just bought it for the income. It's got great long-term leases, and the financing was really attractive. We have five years at a very attractive interest rate, and it's probably the best B building in this submarket." Soho Properties purchased it from the Witkoff Group, which had purchased the building in 2006 for $31.5 million.{{cite web|url=http://observer.com/2009/11/soho-properties-buys-chelsea-building-for-457-m/ |title=SoHo Properties Buys Chelsea Building for $45.7 M. |publisher=The New York Observer |date=November 9, 2009 |accessdate=April 10, 2018}} Soho Properties sold the property to the San Francisco-based Walnut Hill Group in 2012 for $65 million.{{cite news |date=July 23, 2012 |title=El-Gamal sells West 27th Street building for $65M |url=https://therealdeal.com/2012/07/23/el-gamal-sells-west-27th-street-building-for-65m/ |work=The Real Deal }}

In February 2014, El-Gamal announced a partnership to build a new home for the 83-year-old Garment Center Synagogue in Manhattan, as part of a 29-story retail center and hotel at 560 Seventh Avenue. El-Gamal said, "We're in the process of buying one of the last untouched corners of Times Square... with an opportunity to secure the future of a synagogue that will serve the Jewish community for decades to come."{{cite news|last1=Bagli|first1=Charles|title=New Plan by Islamic Center Developer: Rebuild a Synagogue|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/11/nyregion/new-plan-of-islamic-center-developer-rebuild-a-synagogue.html?_r=0|work=New York Times|date=February 10, 2014}} In 2018, Soho Properties announced that this project would be the Margaritaville Resort Times Square.{{cite news |date=April 24, 2018 |title=Margaritaville Holdings Strives for 'No Worries' Vibe at Times Square Hotel |url=https://commercialobserver.com/2018/04/margaritaville-holdings-margaritaville-resort-times-square-560-seventh-avenue-soho-properties-chip-weiss-andrew-weiss-mhp-real-estate-services/ |work=Commercial Observer }}

In May 2016, Soho Properties announced that it had secured $219 million in construction financing for 45 Park Place, a 43-story luxury condominium development.{{cite news |date=May 18, 2016 |title=El-Gamal scores $219M in financing for 45 Park Place |url=https://therealdeal.com/2016/05/18/el-gamal-secures-219m-in-construction-financing-for-45-park-place/ |work=The Real Deal }} The financing structure, involving banks from the Middle East, Asia and Europe, is Sharia-compliant.{{cite news |date=May 26, 2016 |title=By the Book: Behind El-Gamal's deal for sharia |url=https://therealdeal.com/2016/05/26/by-the-book-behind-el-gamals-deal-for-sharia-compliant-financing-at-45-park/ |work=The Real Deal }} El-Gamal said, "Essentially, it's the largest syndicated Sharia-compliant construction loan in New York City."{{cite news |date=August 10, 2016 |title=Talking to Sharif El-Gamal About Sharia Financing, Park Place and His New Dream Hotel |url=https://commercialobserver.com/2016/08/talking-to-sharif-el-gamal-about-sharia-financing-park-place-and-his-new-dream-hotel/ |work=Commercial Observer }}

The tower was initially expected to be completed in 2018.{{cite news |date=June 16, 2016 |title=Construction Finally Begins on Sharif El-Gamal's 45 Park Place |url=https://ny.curbed.com/2016/6/16/11956074/45-park-place-condo-construction-nyc |agency=Curbed |access-date=April 25, 2018 |archive-date=April 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425115037/https://ny.curbed.com/2016/6/16/11956074/45-park-place-condo-construction-nyc |url-status=live }} However, as of March 2023 the tower remains unfinished and subject to a Stop Work Order from the NYC Department of Buildings dating from 2019 due to the contractor of record withdrawing from the project.{{cite web |url=https://tribecacitizen.com/2023/03/12/nosy-neighbor-whats-happening-to-the-crane-on-top-of-45-park-place/ |title=Nosy Neighbor: What’s happening to the crane on top of 45 Park Place? |date=March 12, 2023 |website=www.tribecacitizen.com |publisher=Tribeca Citizen |access-date=September 8, 2023 }} Adjacent to 45 Park Place at 49–51 Park Place, Soho Properties is constructing a three-story museum and sanctuary designed by architect Jean Nouvel.{{cite news |date=August 20, 2014 |title=Con Ed Sells Building Near Ground Zero Where Plans for Mosque Caused Uproar |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/21/nyregion/con-edison-sells-lot-near-ground-zero-where-plans-for-mosque-caused-uproar.html |work=The New York Times }}{{cite news |date=May 12, 2017 |title=Condo Tower to Rise Where Muslim Community Center Was Proposed |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/12/realestate/muslim-museum-world-trade-center.html |work=The New York Times }}

Shortly after the purchase of 45–47 Park Place, the property became an active overflow prayer space for the followers of a mosque located in TriBeCa. In May 2010, plans by El-Gamal to develop the property into a $100 million, 13 story Islamic community center and prayer space ignited national controversy given the building's proximity to Ground Zero.{{cite news|title=Despite Protests, Mosque Plan Near 9/11 Site Wins Key Vote|author=Ray Sanchez|newspaper=ABC News|date=May 26, 2010|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/mosque-plan-clears-hurdle-protests/story?id=10747570|accessdate=September 12, 2010}}{{cite news|title=Backers of NYC mosque appear divided|author=David B. Caruso|agency=Associated Press|date=September 9, 2010|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iNLTahM5QJw8Ts0SpTgWLjXwN7gAD9I435J80|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100912150228/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iNLTahM5QJw8Ts0SpTgWLjXwN7gAD9I435J80|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 12, 2010|accessdate=September 12, 2010}}

El-Gamal envisioned that the project, entitled Park51, as "a landmark, an iconic building that will have people come and visit it from around the world." He repeatedly refused calls to move or cancel the project, stating, "This looks like it is going to be the most famous community center in the world."{{cite news|title=Developer Won't Budge On Mosque Location|author=Grace Rauh|newspaper=NY1|date=August 17, 2010|url=http://manhattan.ny1.com/content/top_stories/123896/ny1-exclusive--developer-won-t-budge-on-mosque-location|accessdate=September 12, 2010}}

In 2014, El-Gamal said that on that site he now intended to construct a smaller, three-story museum "dedicated to exploring the faith of Islam and its arts and culture" at the same location.{{cite news|last1=Otterman|first1=Sharon|title=Developer Scales Back Plans for Muslim Center Near Ground Zero|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/30/nyregion/developer-scales-back-plans-for-muslim-center-near-ground-zero.html?_r=0|work=New York Times|date=April 29, 2014}}

El-Gamal is an observant Muslim. He is married to Rebekah, and they have three children.{{cite news |date=October 2, 2010 |title=Sharif El-Gamal |url=https://therealdeal.com/closings/sharif-el-gamal/ |work=The Real Deal }}

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Category:Living people

Category:1973 births

Category:Real estate and property developers from Brooklyn

Category:American people of Egyptian descent

Category:American people of Polish descent

Category:Muslims from New York (state)

Category:American real estate and property developers