Court sides with Yonkers in lawsuit filed by mosque over landmark designation

A court of appeals has sided with Yonkers in a lawsuit filed against the city by the Islamic Community Center for Mid-Westchester. The mosque claimed the Yonkers Landmarks Preservation Board discriminated against it when it landmarked a mansion it uses for worship back in 2016, rendering it impossible to alter the building without approval from the board. The U.S. Court of Appeals, however — upholding a lower court’s decision — maintained the mosque didn’t adequately explain how the landmark designation would hurt the place of worship. “At no point in its briefing was it clear exactly how the landmark designation impacted its ability to use its property, let alone how the designation substantially burdened its ability to practice its religious faith,” the court said. [LoHud]