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Print PageHuntington Ave Update February 2011
Huntington Ave YMCA Building Update - February 2011
February 15, 2011
Dear Huntington Avenue YMCA Members:
Thank you for your strong support of the Y’s mission and the important role we play in your life and the life of the community. This is the first of many communications you will receive to help keep you informed.
First, the Y is not going away. In fact far from it -- the YMCA of Greater Boston will invest more than $10 million in a new facility at our Huntington Avenue location. We will retain nearly 100,000 square feet of space to deliver our mission to encourage youth development, support healthy living and foster social responsibility.
The affordable and transitional housing at the Y, home for 88 individuals and many children will continue to operate as is, and will remain open and accessible for the entire construction period for both our new Y and the dorm construction at the rear of the building.
The Y has hired a team of professional architects, engineers and lawyers to ensure that our rights and mission are protected in the sale of assets and to work with us to minimize disruption of services to the children, families and members we serve every day.
Important information you should know about where we are in the process:
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In October 2010, the YMCA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Northeastern University and Phoenix Properties to sell a portion of the Huntington Avenue facility. The proceeds from the sale will provide the Y with the resources necessary to rebuild the Y and further our mission by making the Y fully accessible and family-friendly. In addition, the sale will benefit the neighborhood by enabling Northeastern to fulfill its promise to house more undergraduates in University controlled housing.
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In January, the Y received the data from Four Square Market Research, an independent research company, indicating a higher-than-today demand for Y health and wellness services. Four Square presented these results to members of the YMCA of Greater Boston and Huntington Avenue boards of directors.
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A committee that will include General Board and Huntington Avenue Board members, Y staff and Y members will be convened to work with our project development staff to begin the process of integrating the market data and translating it into drawings for what will be the new YMCA.
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We will have schematic drawings of how the new Y space and usage could be laid out by March 15, 2011.
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We will host open meetings for members, residents, families in our afterschool programs and Y employees to gather feedback, comments and suggest changes to our initial design plans. Meetings will be scheduled during the weeks of March 21st and March 28th.
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An interim plan is being developed that will outline all options and facility access members will have for 2011. This plan will be in place by March 31, 2011.
We are committed to sharing information as we have it. Please feel free to contact either of us with any questions as we work together through this process: Wendy Zinn, wzinn@ymcaboston.org, 617-927-8119 or Kelley Rice krice@ymcaboston.org, 617-927-8127.