An affiliate of the Noor Islamic Cultural Center has sued the city of Hilliard after the Hilliard City Council turned down a zoning request for a new neighborhood center in a former BMW office building.
The suit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Columbus, said the city violated federal law and trampled upon the center's rights, which are protected by the U.S. and Ohio constitutions.
"City leaders ignored the City's Zoning Code and erected completely unfounded barriers to prohibit a neighborhood center that would provide much needed space for a growing mosque's members and other Hilliard residents to open businesses, have offices, educate their children 鈥� and, yes, to worship," the suit said.
"City leaders, however, improperly blocked the neighborhood center and prevented religious worship without any legitimate basis," the suit said.
The suit was filed by Britton Parkway Holding, an affiliate of the cultural center and a real estate holding company for the property.
The building at 5550 Britton Parkway has been vacant for years. BMW Financial Services formerly occupied the building, leaving in 2023.
Britton Parkway Holding bought the 226,000-square-foot office building in Feb. 2024, intending to use at least part of the space for a community center and prayer space.
But at a November meeting, Hilliard City Council unanimously denied zoning changes that would have allowed those and other uses for the building.
Noor's lawyers in December filed an administrative appeal in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
The suit said the city has recognized there is no longer a market for massive office buildings like this one. It cites the city's adoption of a community plan that calls for the property to be redeveloped for mixed uses or as a neighborhood center.
"BPH purchased the property to transform the vacant office building into a dynamic neighborhood center featuring a creative mix of uses that will benefit the community," the suit said.
The center's plans included restaurants, offices, a school and a daycare, in addition to the community space.
Hilliard City Manager Michelle Crandall said last year that the building and site are a premium office location and how much that translates into the city being able to provide critical services, infrastructure and amenities.
Crandall also is named in the suit.
The suit claims that Hilliard favors Christian institutions, citing $600,000 approved by the Hilliard City Council in 2002 to help build a new YMCA community center on Cosgray Road, and approving the construction of the Rock City Church.
The suit asks for compensatory damages, plus a declaration that the cultural center's intended uses of the property are constitutional and reasonable, and an injunction preventing the city from taking any action to prevent the cultural center from developing the property.
City of Hilliard spokesman David Ball had no comment on the suit.
Britton Parkway Holding attorney Joseph Miller told 星空无限传媒 that his clients rights have been violated. He said the plan for the BMW building conformed with zoning standards.
"The city of Hilliard won't be reasonable," Miller said.
Miller said he would think that Hilliard residents would expect better from their government.
In November, the city of Hilliard released a statement that said in part that it is the obligation of City Council to consider existing zoning, city regulations, and the community plan when making decisions. "We assure Hilliard residents, including those in our Muslim community, that this process was followed in accordance with our City zoning and land use policies."
