After a year of construction — and years of fundraising and planning — local Muslims will soon hold religious services and community events in their new center.

Final touches are being completed on the Muslim Community Center of Greater San Diego at 14698 Via Fiesta in Santaluz.

The almost 200 member families will be celebrating its completion at a 1:30 p.m. Aug. 8 ceremony for members and invited guests. Its theme will revolve around openness and being American Muslims, said Anita Tallman, MCC spokeswoman.

The majority of members live in 4S Ranch, Rancho Bernardo, Poway and nearby Inland Corridor communities, said Tallman, a 4S Ranch resident. She added several members recently moved to Santaluz, in part to be closer to the center.

Building the center is the first of a two-phase plan for the five-acre site. The first phase included the 8,000-square-foot building with about another 2,000 square feet of verandas.

It has a multipurpose room for religious services and community events, six rooms primarily for children’s religious education, an office and breakroom.

The first phase, which included purchasing the land and constructing the center, was about $5.5 million, said Sayed Ali, MCC Foundation chairman and Santaluz resident.

“We raised a significant sum of money through the community and have a bank loan,” Ali said. “We’re about $150,000 short and are hoping to raise the difference (at) the opening (ceremony).”
The second phase to be completed years from now (no time line has been set), includes building a recreation hall, patios and other amenities, such as a basketball court.

Tallman said the new facility is called a community center instead of a mosque because there is no space dedicated solely to religious services, which are 12:45-1:30 p.m. each Friday.
This model is typical in the United States, Tallman said, adding in primarily Muslim countries there are usually two buildings.

“We have limited funds, so we do not have the luxury to build both a mosque and community center,” Tallman said.

The center’s design, chosen to blend with nearby homes, reflects Andalusian architecture, a style common in southern Spain and centuries ago influenced by Muslims in that region, she said.

Tallman and Ali said the constructed center looks even better than it did in artist renderings.
“It’s pretty incredible,” Tallman said.

“I think it is very inspiring,” Ali said, adding the center reflects the members’ focus of being Americans first and Muslims second.

He said there is an emphasis of tolerance and acceptance of all, so Muslims and non-Muslims can “learn from each other.”

Ali said once the center opens next month, neighbors and others will be welcome to stop by.
“We wish they would come visit us (and meet with) the center director,” Ali said. “It will be open if they wish to take a look.”

Tallman also said the “open” theme reflects not only the center’s goal of unity between Muslims and non-Muslims, but its acceptance of Muslims from various sects.

Unlike many other centers, Ali said the one in Santaluz is based on democratic principals, where all board members are elected.

The community began meeting in 2001 and rented a space in Rancho Penasquitos. As membership grew, it moved to larger facilities. Until a few months ago, it held prayer services at Courtyard by Marriott in Rancho Bernardo. As the center neared completion, members relocated their services to an outdoor area next to the center.

Plans for a permanent center took a dramatic step forward when the Santaluz site was purchased in 2005.

For details, go to www.gsdmcc.org or call 858-756-5100.