Metro Nashville School Board member Karen Johnson is leading opposition to a new Islamic Center that would move into the vacant Carmike Theater on Bell Forge Lane in Antioch.
Johnson launched a petition drive today for neighbors to oppose the move, even though the Islamic Center of Tennessee already has a contract in place to purchase the building.
The agreed purchase price is $1.55 million, and the state Islamic Center has already raised $1.1 million in cash and pledges toward that goal. The closing date is set for early August.
Johnson e-mailed residents to sign a petition in support of a satellite building for Nashville State Technical Community CollegeImage instead of the Islamic Center.
According to Johnson’s email, the local realty group CRBE has received offers from three different groups. Besides the Islamic Center and the technical college, the realty company also received an offer from the Assembly of God Church.
It is unclear if the property has the proper zoning for a use as a religious community center. The property is owned by Georgia-based Carmike Theaters Inc.
Johnson could not immediately be reached for comment.
“Even though the owners… have initially signed a contract with the Islamic Center of TennesseeImage, we hope to convince them that the community would be better served with an educational facility and to allow NTSCC another chance to bid on the property,” the email from Johnson and Pat Carl stated.
This is the third instance of residents opposing an Islamic center or Muslim mosque from moving in this year. In Williamson County, a proposal for an Islamic Center was withdrawn after public opposition. In Murfreesboro, a proposal for a new mosque is moving forward despite vocal opposition from residents there. That proposed site is on land zone for a religious use.