YMCA Briefs: Ys Undergoing Construction in Alaska, Massachusetts and Illinois

The Lake Otis YMCA, Anchorage, Alaska, closed in November 2018 due to an earthquake that damaged the facility. Structural engineers estimated the cost of repairs to be between $750,000 and $1.5 million, according to KTTU 2. The Y did not have earthquake insurance. Repairs will begin later this spring, and Y CEO Larry Parker wants to see the facility reopened by October 2019.

The MetroWest YMCA, Ashland, Massachusetts, is planning a new facility after receiving a 12.5-acre land donation, according to The Milford Daily News. The land is in Ashland's Rail Transit District near Holliston and Hopkinton—an area that a 2017 feasibility study determined was underserved. The Y is meeting with the towns to assess what residents want in a new facility before starting the construction process. The facility will be funded through community fundraisers and long-term financing with local banks and the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency.

The North Suburban YMCA, Chicago, is requesting $260,000 in state funds for a handicap-accessible bus as well as repairs and improvements to its heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, according to The Chicago Tribune. The funding would be part of a $2.1 million capital campaign to support the Y’s program needs. Y officials also addressed a recent bill that would increase the state's minimum wage to $15 by 2025, asking state legislators to support a deadline to give the nonprofit organization time to adjust to the wage increase. The Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs requested that any increase in minimum wage be implemented over a period of years.

The Scott County Family YMCA, Davenport, Iowa, is proposing a new downtown facility, according to KWQC 2. The facility would live on 13 acres that the Y already owns on 4th Street near River Drive. The cost to develop would be about $22 million. "Our downtown Y services 6,000 members," Y CEO Brad Martell said in a media release. "We could easily grow to 10,000 or 12,000 members and double the impact it has on the community."

The ongoing expansion of the Orange Family YMCA, Monroe, New York, has hit a snag, according to the Times Herald-Record. Conflict over a second road entrance to handle the area’s additional traffic has reached an impasse after new mayor Neil Dwyer opposed the idea because he believes it could actually worsen traffic and endanger walkers and bikers. In a media release, Y CEO Ira Besdanksy said he and his board are being forced to revisit traffic and safety concerns. The ongoing expansion will add 20,000 square feet to the existing facility, adding a four-lane pool, a gym, a multipurpose room, a family locker room and additions to the existing men’s and women’s locker rooms.

A new 23,600-square-foot aquatics center and 3,000-square-foot clubhouse have been approved for the YMCA of Greater Nashua, Nashua, New Hampshire. The additions will help fill a gap in an underserved, northwestern part of the city, according to The Nashua Telegraph. The aquatics center's total site area is approximately 8.7 acres, and construction will begin this fall. The center is expected to open in summer 2020.

Club Industry's YMCA briefs features recent notable openings, real estate transactions and renovations among American Y facilities. Do you have news to share with us? Send your news, tips or story ideas to [email protected]. You can also connect with us on Facebook, on Twitter and on LinkedIn.