Metro

‘Mosque’ empire expands

The developer behind the Ground Zero mosque is tightening his grip on a block near the site, snatching up a new building for $8 million.

Sharif El-Gamal now controls three neighboring buildings just two blocks from the site of the 9/11 attacks by Islamic terrorists. The latest purchase is a five-story property at 43 Park Place.

It comes as records show that his Park51 charity had a $230,862 deficit in its first year — a number that includes the “theft” of $2,000 in cash donations, according to the group’s first tax filing obtained by The Post.

Shaun Olsen, Park51’s accountant, said the 2011 deficit was made up with money from PrayerSpace, the separate nonprofit that runs the mosque.

Park51 spent $57,430 putting on its first exhibit, photos of children from around the world living in New York. It doled out $167,403 for salaries; $49,652 for advertising; and $82,925 for legal expenses, according to the tax return.

The latest building purchase went through in December, property records show. A company called 43 Park Place Partners Corp. put $1 million down to buy the property.

El-Gamal also owns 45-47 Park Place and leases 51 Park Place from ConEd.

El-Gamal could not be reached for comment.