In my Fox News debate a few months back with Pamela Geller, the anti-Muslim activist who funded those awful bus ads against Park51 (formerly known as Cordoba House, smeared as the “Ground Zero Mosque”), I called the situation “false advertising.” One of the points I wish I had made in our brief exchange is that Geller had doctored the image of the 13-story proposal (a relatively short building for Manhattan) to add that giant crescent moon emblem, like a Bat-Signal to Islamophobics.

The conceptual design has just been released, including preliminary exterior and interior renderings
:

Check out CNN, the New York Times, and the Associated Press for more coverage. The AP story goes into some detail about the funding (not yet secured) and the plans for the building use:

The largest part of the building — four of 16 floors — would be taken up by a sports, fitness and swimming center. Another full floor would be occupied by a child care center and playground. Much of the rest of the building would be occupied by a restaurant, culinary school, artist studios, exhibition space and an auditorium for cultural events.

Meanwhile, CNN also reports that New York City police have increased security for the couple behind the proposal, Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf and Daisy Khan, due to threats they have received.

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