Property Update
MACCLM Board - Property Update to Community
Saturday, July 29, 2023
Asselemu aleikom wa rahmatou Allah Wa barakatouh,
The MACCLM Board wanted to share an important update regarding the property matter. We have received a response from the attorney of the propoerty owner’s attorney. Please see the attached letter.
According to the response, the property owners, Br Abdul Jaleel and Sr Shermeen Jaleel, have stated their intention to sell the property at the market price while ensuring a reasonable profit. Additionally, they have declined our bank’s pre-approved credit for the purchase.
We understand the disappointment this news may bring to the community. Please be assured that the MACCLM Board is actively and diligently working on resolving this matter. The Board, in parallel, is actively exploring a possibility of purchasing property elsewhere in Lexington.
InshaAllah, we will keep you updated as we make progress on either fronts.
Response from Br Dr Abdul Jaleel & Sr Shermeen Jaleel’s Attorney:
MACCLM Board - Property Update to Community
Friday, June 9, 2023
Asselemu aleikom wa rahmatou Allah Wa barakatouh,
In the last few weeks, the board invited Dr. Abdul Jaleel to meet and discuss the potential sale of the property to MACCLM. Dr. Abdul Jaleel, through his lawyer, indicated that before he would be able to enter into negotiations on any sale, he needs to know that MACCLM has the sufficient funds to complete the purchase.
The board responded by sending a bank statement indicating that MACCLM has $620K in the bank account and a pre-approval letter from a bank for a loan in the amount of $900K. The board also indicated that we received commitments from community members for over $400K in Quard-Hassan (no-interest loan). We also indicated that we are actively working to secure a loan from Islamic financing institutions, and that we received a positive response from UIF Corporation.
Last week we received a response from Dr. Abdul Jaleel’s lawyer stating that “[n]o agreement has been reached with regard to the price or terms of sale” and that “[t]he Landlord sees no need to enter into negotiations with MACCLM on a sales price for the property if MACCLM cannot provide it with confirmation that it has the necessary funds to purchase the property with cash, or cash plus the ability to obtain a commercial mortgage from a bank.” Dr. Abdul Jaleel’s lawyer added the following points (emphasis added):
- Our clients have not reached an agreement on the price or the terms of sale.
- We contend that the FMV of the property is substantially higher than the $1,500,000 referenced in the Leaders Bank letter.
- Even if you were to provide an updated letter from Leaders Bank referencing a higher purchase price and a higher corresponding loan amount, we have been provided no information as to how MACCLM would repay any loan. As such, we see the Leaders Bank letter as having little value.
- Based on what you have provided us, we do not believe MACCLM has sufficient funds or the ability to borrow sufficient funds to purchase the property at its current FMV.
- Unless and until evidence is presented to us that we believe is adequate to support your client’s ability to fund a purchase at the FMV and to service any debt borrowed for such purchase, we see no need to incur the cost of obtaining an appraisal of the property to determine its FMV.
MACCLM board, on behalf of the community, is working with an attorney to send a response to Dr. Jaleel’s attorney. MACCLM board is also exploring alternatives in case the landlord is still unwilling to transfer the property to MACCLM.
MACCLM is Leasing Property
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
MACCLM has been leasing the property at 344 Lowell Street, Lexington, MA. The lease ends in April 2024. This property was initially purchased for $1.3 Million by the Lexington Peace Center (LPC). Brother Dr. Mohammad Abdul Jaleel and Sister Shermin Jaleel are the trustees of the trust which owns LPC. The intention has always been for MACCLM to eventually take ownership of the property from LPC.
The Board of MACCLM has been actively working towards purchasing the current property and has sent another invitation letter to Br Mohammad Jaleel and is waiting for his response. We have asked him to respond by May 31st.
MACCLM is funded by the Muslim community in and around Lexington. All rent, utilities and services for the center has been paid by MACCLM. The rent paid to date is intended to count towards the purchase price of the property once MACCLM was financially ready for the purchase.
MACCLM has over $500,000 in savings from past fundraising events and donations. Alhamdulillah, we were able to raise more than $150,000 during the 2023 Ramadan Fundraising event. In addition, we have secured commitments (in the form of qard-hasana) from members of the community for several hundred thousand dollars for the purpose of purchasing a property. All funds raised to buy the property is untouched. Thanks to the generous donations from the sustaining members and the community members, MACCLM has supplemental funds to cover all the operational costs.
Fig 1: Funds Raised to Purchase Property
Fig 2: 2022 Balance Sheet
2021 Fundraising Event
Friday, April 30, 2021
April 2021 was the era of post COVID Ramadan when the community come together under the open tent to celebrate the blessed month. MashaAllah we were able to hold Taraweeh prayers in the center keeping the safe distances. We had drive by Iftar packed for the community to pick up. We were able to hold the event to raise the needed funds for the center. It was a success. We were able to raise close to $118,000 even during the trying times.
Here is the YouTube video of the speakers at the event (Click to View):
Lease to Purchase Agreement
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Alhamdulillah, the lease to purchase agreement was signed to acquire the property for the Muslim American Community Center of Lexington, MA (MACCLM) on September 10, 2019 (Muharram 10, H1441). The agreement was signed between MACCLM and Lexington Peace Center LLC. The property is located at 344 Lowell Street, Lexington, MA.
First Ramadan Iftar Fundraiser
Monday, May 27, 2019
Speakers
Dr. Altaf Hussain
Dr. Altaf Husain holds a doctoral degree from the Howard University School of Social Work in Washington D.C. His research interests include the integration of immigrant and refugee families, and especially Muslim adolescents, in the United States. He serves as Executive Assistant for Academic Affairs in the Office of the Provost at Howard University and is a double alumnus of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Altaf is a former two-term national president of the Muslim Students Association, a current executive committee member of the Muslim Alliance in North America, and a board member of the Peaceful Families Project. He is married and has two sons.
Dr. John Robbins
Dr. John Robbins is the Founding Executive Director of the Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil rights organization in the United States. His office has jurisdiction over more than 120,000 Muslims in the Commonwealth. He has made over 100 TV and radio appearances, and his writings have appeared in numerous outlets including Fortune, Time, Muslim Matters, the Hill, the Jewish Journal, the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, and the Huffington Post. He received his Ph.D. in Literature from Cornell University at the age of 27, and completed postdoctoral fellowships at Tufts University and the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Robbins sits on the board of directors of Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries, the greater Boston area’s oldest interfaith social justice network.Muslim American Community Center of Lexington (MACCL) Inaugural Ceremony
Sunday, March 17, 2019
The newly formed Muslim American Community Center of Lexington (MACCL), a non-profit religious organization, started it journey on Sunday, March 17 with an inaugural ceremony at the Lexington Historical Society Building, Depot Square Lexington. Around one hundred Lexington Muslims and invited dignitaries from Muslim Centers around Greater Boston area attended the ceremony. Dr. Basyouny Nehela, the Dean of Boston Islamic Seminary was the keynote speaker.
Quoting from the Quran and Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace and Blessings be on him) tradition, he empathized the importance and the role of a community in a society to inculcate the values of peace and piety by serving the people in the society irrespective of their beliefs, helping the needy and the underprivileged and to achieving excellence in doing things for the benefit of Lexington and the country at large. Dr. Mawdud-ur-Rahman introduced MACCL to the community. Dr. M.A. Jaleel highlighted the vision and the mission of the organization and outlined a list of long-term and short-term goals. He hoped that the MACCL becomes a center of excellence and provide service to all communities. Dr. Akmal Sarwar received comments and questions on behalf of the MACCL. Before the program started the Afternoon Prayer, one of the five daily prayers for Muslims was offered in congregation. The prayer call was recited by Dr. Abdus Sattar Khan.
The program started with prayers for the New Zealand mosque victims and their families. The closing doa (prayers) was led by Imam Dr. Basyouny Nehela, He prayed for the peace and prosperity of our town, the community and also for the New Zealand victims.
MACCL event volunteers included its 17 Council members. Logistic supports including refreshments were provided by Naseem, Hifza, Iram, Sana, Saima, Eman and Shermin. Young volunteers Mariam, Aafreen, Hoda, Mohammad and Omar assisted in receiving and registering the guests.
Finally, Eman Mogran thanked all guests dignitaries, and volunteers who contributed to the success of the event, and the Lexington Historical Society building administration for letting us use the facilities.
Submitted by:
Ms. Shermin Jaleel
Communication Director, MACCL
E: sheminj@yahoo.com