The Muslim community on the

south side of Atlanta has a new gathering place in downtown Fayetteville,

converting a building with a recent history of alleged criminal activity

into a house of worship.

After its recent purchase by

a Peachtree City doctor, the site formerly known as The Market is now

the Muslim Community Center of Atlanta, and began full-day operation this

week, allowing followers of Islam to pray up to five times per day as

their religion requires.

The Market, at the northwest

corner of Ga. Highway 54 and Jeff Davis Boulevard, was a grocery store

several years ago and sat vacant for some time until plans for a teen

center came to fruition.

But less than a year after

opening with talk of a Christian-oriented place for teens to gather, the

club was shut down in July 2000 by authorities amid allegations of lewd

dancing by teenagers and other sordid behavior. The teen club never reopened.

Reports surfaced earlier this

year that a local church and Christian school would take control of the

property and operate a day care center there. That proposal was warmly

greeted by city officials and Fayette Christian School received all of

the necessary authorization, but the school was unable to work out financial

details of the project.

It appeared that the building

would remain vacant for a while longer, but Dr. Unnisa Faiyaz and her

husband stepped in and bought the property.

The owners hoped to open the

center immediately after purchasing the property, but the events of Sept.

11 changed that. The center opened to the public in mid-November.

Other churches and groups have

inquired about using the building for selected events and activities of

their own, Faiyaz said, but that will be subject to the center's own schedule,

which will eventually include classes for children and other activities.

"This is a mosque,"

she said, noting that possible outside events conducted on the property

will be considered carefully.

She is pleased with the availability

of the building, despite of its recent history. "God provided this

for us," she said.

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