Muslim prayer center, residents collide near West Chicago
By Jake GriffinLeaders of the Islamic Center of Western Suburbs want to convert a house at 28W774 Army Trail Road near West Chicago into the organization’s prayer center and food pantry, but neighbors are fighting the plan.
Kevin Wiley has been waiting for Monday for two years.
That’s the day when DuPage County’s Zoning Board of Appeals opens a hearing into a proposal to convert a house at 28W774 Army Trail Road near West Chicago into the headquarters for the Islamic Center of Western Suburbs.
The leaders of the Muslim group want to turn the house they bought out of foreclosure into a prayer center and food pantry. Neighbors like Wiley want the group to stop using the house for anything other than a residence until the county decides whether to allow a different use.
“First it was the landscaping issues they did without the proper permits that changed the floodplain and caused my basement to flood twice,” Wiley said. “The thing that bothers us the most is the constant rotation of different people coming and going every day.”
This is the third time the issue has been in front of the county’s zoning board. The Islamic Center’s new attorney, Kevin Gallaher, said he is aware of the history surrounding the proposal and is hopeful a resolution satisfactory to all sides can be reached.
“There’s been some miscommunication along the way on the part of all parties,” Gallaher said. “All sides need to come to an understanding as to what the ultimate use of the property will be.”
Islamic Center leaders are seeking a “conditional use” permit that will allow them to operate the property as a religious facility. They also are asking for more parking.
“They’re trying to convert a residential property into something it wasn’t intended to be,” said neighbor Ron Cwik.
Adding to the controversy is a private driveway the Islamic Center shares with Ray and Jackie Sitkiewicz. The couple told the county board last month that many times they’ve found themselves either unable to enter or leave their property because cars of people worshipping at the house five times a day block the drive.
In January, the county cited the Islamic Center’s leaders for zoning violations related to parking and non-permitted uses of the property. The state’s attorney’s office is seeking more than $25,000 in fines it claims the center has racked up since the beginning of the year for failing to comply with the county’s orders. But the case was once again held over for another month last week to see what comes out of Monday’s meeting, Gallaher said.
Compounding the confusion is the state department of revenue’s decision last year to grant a complete property tax exemption for the parcel. That amounts to more than $8,600 off the tax rolls, Wayne Township Assessor Michael Musson said.
Sue Hofer, a spokeswoman for the department, said the decision was based on a recommendation from the county’s board of review.
“We have no way of determining local land use,” she said. “Our job is to determine whether the use of the property is consistent with the law.”
Hofer said the Islamic Center’s paperwork was complete and included federal nonprofit documentation.
DuPage Supervisor of Assessments Craig Dovel said that while his office does make a recommendation in conjunction with the board of review, the state is ultimately responsible for deciding whether to grant an exemption. Dovel and Board of Review Chairman Tony Bonavolonta said the county doesn’t check for zoning violations before making any recommendations.
“We don’t question a religious use,” Bonavolonta said. “We just forward that onto the department of revenue.”
However, Hofer said the state relies on county officials to make sure a property owner seeking a tax exemption is legitimate.
“They are our eyes and ears on the ground,” she said.
Wiley said none of the government agencies are looking out for the residents.
“See? That’s insane with the tax exemption,” he complained. “By them saying they are using the property for religious purposes, they are admitting to the zoning violations.”
The county has been dealing with church-related zoning issues for several years, but the county board rejected a measure that would have imposed significant limitations on locations more than a year ago. The county is being sued by another Muslim organization after a proposal to open a similar prayer center and food pantry near Naperville was rejected recently.
County board member Jim Zay said the issue of zoning for religious facilities in residential areas needs to be addressed.
“It’s not about the church, it’s about property rights,” he said. “People coming into a single-family area have the right to assume it’s going to remain a single-family area.”
No…this is not a repeat post of Muslims trying to do the same exact thing in Brooklyn NY. This time they are showing no respect to their neighbors in Chicago. Muslims are constantly demanding respect, yet they do not care about the wants and beliefs of non-Muslims. Islam is one-way street, and we should return the favor. Say no to Muslim immigration, and Mosque construction.
Hat tip to Dee.
We never did liberate Iraq, but we did enslave America by importing Iraqi Shiite Muslims and their sectarian Islamic agenda.
You don’t need to win the whole war today — you just need to be
1% braver than you were yesterday. That’s the whole assignment.
I’m one of those who think Islam shouldn’t even exist, much less spread.
We can defeat enemies who are not afraid to die. But we have to be willing to kill them. Anything else will just drag us into a waiting game with terrorists who can outwait us if all they have to fear from us are some limited economic sanctions and an occasional bombing raid.
83 more new Crusader songs. I think I’m close to 200 songs so far.
83 Templar call to arms.
We’re in a holy war right now! And this earth needs its holy knight to defend our god, country, and family !! Amen
I WILL SAY TO ALL. OUR BROTHER TEMPLARS WERE SOLID. THEY DID NOT FALL BECAUSE OF GREED. THEY WERE PERSECUTED BY THE CHURCH. WHICH WAS EVIL AT THE TIME. AND WERE ACCUSED FALSELY. ALL WERE THOUGHT TO BE DEAD. BUT WE SURVIVED. AND THROUGH GODS GRACE. WE HAVE BEEN GIVING THE DRAGON HELL. AS WE WILL TO THE END. WE ARE WARRIORS BORN INTO THIS SERVITUDE TO OUR LORD GOD. FROM OLD SOULS. WE WILL PREVAIL AGAINST DARKNESS. AND CRUSH OUR ENEMY. REMEMBER THAT. GOD WILL ALWAYS WIN.
In memory of Charlie Kirk.
This is not weakness.
This is the sword of forgiveness.
“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” — Luke 23:34
We honor him not with vengeance,
but with faith, endurance, and light.
Forgive yes… But it does not mean to lie down and roll over. We have turned our cheek a lot. Righteous anger is also in the BIBLE and justified. I will warn, try to sway, then I will protect. I will draw the Sword.
The cross is not a symbol of comfort.
It is the altar where your will is slain.
Only the crucified man can rise unbroken.
Stand firm, brotherhood of the faithful.
This is not comfort. This is command.
The spirit must be trained.
These are lessons on disciplining the spirit.
Be the one who overcame, not the one who was overcome.
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Jesus is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. No matter what the world tells you,
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the shelter of the Highest,
the refuge in the storm,
the promise that terror does not get the final word.
True peace is found when we realize that the Most High is our refuge and our fortress.
No matter what the world throws at you, you are covered by His wings and protected by His Truth.
Every Full Metal Patriot song tells a story.
BORN AMERICAN BORN FREE AND THAT’S HOW I’LL DIE!!
You’re Hated. Train Like It.
I have always been training since retiring from the US Military. Be aware of your surroundings, make good decisions, and never let the enemy see you coming. I know I’m hated. DON’T CARE! There’s a lot of us retired Military out here. Do you really want to get sideways with us? COME GET SOME then! Full Metal Patriot
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Full Metal Patriot ·
Full Metal Patriot and Patriot United rocking the house. Praise Jesus Deus Vult
My son is a Marine on the USS Rushmore in the strait off Iran. I turned him onto this band. Can you imagine 800 Marines listening to this
Welcome to the awakening. Praise Jesus, Deus Vult.
I knew the lord was watching and listening. He’s moving and answering prayers. Praise You Jesus
You lit the wrong fuse.
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How awesome is that? Praise Jesus, Deus Vult
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I was battered by the storm for most of my young life. Now I am the storm.
Well, that’s enough of that. I’m going to go see what I can dig up for you guys for our forward march.
When all warnings have been given, and all mercy has been rejected, the burden of action falls upon those who remain standing. To endure evil without response is not virtue; it is surrender. And so, the oath is made, not for conquest, not for cruelty, but because silence in the face of ruin is its own failure. Where words are ignored, resolve must speak. Where reason is cast aside, consequence takes its place. And those who bear the burden of protection do not always choose the hour of conflict… but are bound to answer when it arrives.
Pray it. Mean it. Rise. The battlefield is waiting. Deus Vult
This is spiritual warfare at its deepest root:
There is no neutral ground. Every soul walks under a master — sin that pays in death, or Christ who paid in blood. This is spiritual warfare at its root: not noise, not feeling, not technique — but the daily question of whose yoke rests on your shoulders.
This is the most important fight I’ve ever fought. Islam must be defeated.
Islam the cult of murdering scum/
The battle is not against flesh and blood.
The battle is against powers, principalities, and every force that seeks to destroy what God created.
One day every mask will be removed.
One day every hidden thing will stand before the Throne.
One day the Judge will come.
Until then, stand firm.
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them.”
— Ephesians 5:11
FMP- Full Metal Patriot
THE VEIL IS TORN, AND WE SEE ALL. Praise Jesus, Deus Vult.
We did it once, and we’ll do it again. This is our land. This is our destiny for our children and our grandchildren. Molon Labe.