Riaz Khan with his wife, Ayesha Khan. (Kevin Clark / Herald file)

Riaz Khan with his wife, Ayesha Khan. (Kevin Clark / Herald file)

Groundbreaking for Mukilteo’s first mosque is Saturday

The proposed Islamic Center of Mukilteo was the target of an anti-mosque mailer campaign in 2016.

MUKILTEO — It’s Riaz Khan’s field of dreams.

And finally, after seven years of planning, and a short-lived Islamophobic campaign against it, there will be shovels.

The groundbreaking of the Islamic Center of Mukilteo is 11 a.m. Saturday at 3920 Harbour Pointe Blvd. SW.

“This is close to my heart,” Khan said. “It’s a dream project. It is the first mosque in Mukilteo.”

Khan, a Boeing engineer who was elected to the Mukilteo City Council in 2019, is president of the group spearheading the mosque. It started in 2014 with purchase of land off Mukilteo Speedway, between a Bank of America and Mukilteo City Hall. The project has been approved by the city.

The opening date of the mosque depends on funding.

“The time frame is one to two years,” Khan said. “We are still raising money. We have a contractor.”

Other local mosques are in Everett, Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace.

“This will help Mukilteo residents,” Khan said.

He aims for a membership of about 100 people.

The proposed 3,796-square-foot building will have an assembly and prayer area, multi-purpose room, offices, a kitchen, restrooms and two classrooms. Plans call for a parking lot with 26 spaces on the 33,000-square-foot lot.

Rendering of the Islamic Center of Mukilteo.

Rendering of the Islamic Center of Mukilteo.

“That’s about 100 people with a family of four,” Khan said. “About 100 people can pray. A lot of people come to the mosque, mostly on Friday for afternoon prayer.”

Conceptual drawings show a minaret, a type of tower that provides a visual focal point. Often the tower is used for the Muslim call to prayer, but this one is simply an architectural feature. Planners do not intend to install loudspeakers or broadcast calls to prayer from the site.

The group has the support of Pointe of Grace Lutheran Church, where it now meets.

But the mosque has faced challenges.

In 2016 Peter Zieve, founder of aerospace firm Electroimpact Inc., was behind anonymous postcards asking residents to oppose the mosque. Zieve first denied knowing about it, then later admitted he was behind the mailing and that he regretted it.

A month later, flyers with the words “Ban Islam from America” were posted at the site of the planned mosque. A U.S. flag was placed nearby. The mosque’s sign was damaged.

Khan said there hasn’t been any blatant opposition since.

Mayor Jennifer Gregerson plans to attend Saturday’s groundbreaking.

“Over the years the proposal raised concerns from some members of the community and an openness and welcoming from many others,” Gregerson said.

“This is a step forward for their project and demonstrates that people of all faiths are welcome in Mukilteo.”

Andrea Brown: abrown@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3443. Twitter @reporterbrown.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.