Because You Asked: What's up with plans for a South Durham YMCA?

BCR reader Evan wrote in a couple of weeks ago to ask this question for our Because You Asked series:

What are the current plans (if any) for a YMCA in SouthWest Durham?  I had heard a while back that they may be planning a Y in SW Durham when they were closing the Lakewood Y but now that it is staying open are there still plans for another Y in SW??

Good question, Evan. And in fact, during the discussions on the Lakewood Y's fate back in 2007, the Durham YMCA Board of Advisors noted their intention to look for a near-term South Durham location for a Y in addition to maintaining the Lakewood facility.

In December 2007, the plans were to look for a small-sized space, likely in a leased storefront location, in anticipation of building a full-service (70,000 sq. ft. or so) Y in South Durham sometime in the future; or as the Y put it at the time, to "position the YMCA for significant expansion in that area."

We're midway through '09; is a South Durham Y on the way for winter? According to Bryan Huffman, executive director of Durham's YMCA branches, the economy among other factors has pushed that date back to an indefinite one.

"It's not directly moving forward with a quick timeline," Huffman told BCR in an interview on Wednesday.

But it's not just the macroeconomic conditions, which have certainly soured since 2007. Huffman also noted that much of the Durham Y board's attention has been focused on the renovations of Lakewood's facility, which is scheduled to close next month in advance of environmental abatement and the start of renovations.

Architects are still working on finalizing the plans for the YMCA's space inside what will be a joint Y wellness center and Durham Public Schools Montessori magnet middle school.

"We've spent our time on Lakewood, which has pushed South Durham to the back burner, if you will, to make sure we got Lakewood done right," Huffman said.

Huffman also noted the challenge of finding the right location within South Durham, even for a temporary leased storefront. He pointed out that while finding a site in the southern part of the Bull City was important, the organization's leadership was watching growth throughout the Triangle to make sure that any site selected didn't cannibalize or compete with other possible future Y sites.

"We know that at some point, the Triangle is growing, and the YMCA is a mirror image of the Triangle," Huffman said, adding that growth in Morrisville, Brier Creek/northwest Raleigh, and western Cary would all be factors in a future Durham location.

At the same time, a location too far north within Durham would draw from the downtown and Lakewood Y's.

And Huffman noted that while many had assumed that the Southpoint area would be where a new Y would land, the Durham Y board is even sensitive to wanting to find a location that doesn't compete too closely with Chapel Hill's YMCA -- which, unlike Durham and the rest of the region, is independent as opposed to being merged into the YMCA of the Triangle organization.

(Durham's Y merged earlier in the decade with the capital-area Y to form the umbrella organization, but maintains a local board of advisors.)

Still, the Durham board is targeting a full-service Y for South Durham as a goal within the next ten years, and it hasn't given up plans of bringing in a temporary leased location -- once the economy and the site selection are right.

"What we want is a YMCA that serves South Durham.  Where that is, we don't care philosophically," Huffman said.

Have a Bull City question you've been itching to know the answer to? Write us at info@bullcityrising.com.  --Ed.

Comments

[Everett]

The Y should have been more forthcoming about its plans. The drawings for the proposed 751 Assemblage show a lot/building dedicated to a Y. Members of the 751 team have mentioned their plans to include a Y in the project, at no cost to the Y.

As this proposed plan becomes more political, will the Y use its influence to urge support of the project?

Will the K&L Gates lawyers who've served on the local Y board disclose their connections?

Quid pro quo?

To think the Y abandoned one of Durham's urban neighborhoods to join the sprawl in south Durham...

This was the Y's plan all along.

[James]

The Y should move into south Durham asap. Lower construction and land cost could be had now while the economy is soft, five to ten years from now the Y may find it's cost prohibitive to build in the southpoint area. Also having all three of Durham's YMCAs within a two mile radius does not serve Durham well; and makes one wonder what special interest the Y is kowtowing to.

[Kevin Davis]

"To think the Y abandoned one of Durham's urban neighborhoods to join the sprawl in south Durham..."

Question: What abandonment are you talking about? They're maintaining a facility in Lakewood (albeit a smaller one.) Or is there something I'm missing?

[GreenLantern]

If there's any political element in this discussion, it's the constant drum-beat of urbanites living close to downtown that are pushing the Y's buttons to the brink of insolvency. It's really getting old hearing how much Lakewood and other politically connnected downtown neighborhood associations demanded another Y located within walking distance of the one they already have at the ATC.

South Durham isn't "sprawl", and neither is east, north, or west Durham. Durham is made up of more communities than those bounded by I85, US70, 15-501, and MLK. South and East Durham are located closer to the work center of RTP, so in terms of commute and environmental impact, that's even less than OWD and many of the other downtown 'hoods can claim. The fact is that most people want to live on a 1/4" acre lot in a nice neighborhood, close to shopping, entertainment, and recreational options. Given where people live, work, and play, south Durham doesn't classify as a sprawling suburb.

[S Gwaltney]

The Y should replace the Parkwood shopping center off of Revere instead of the community center that will never happen. There is plenty of room and parking. It would meet the S. Durham needs and would get membership from Morrisville as well.

[tina]

I question how many members the Chapel Hill Y has living in Southpoint Area. I would love to see numbers on that. I would imagine most of those that do live in the Southpoint area and have a CH Y membership work in CH. We very near Southpoint and found that the Y in Chapel Hill & the Downtown Durham Y and Cary Y are all within 2 or 3 miles of total distance from our house.

I hope the Y chooses a location where an indoor pool can be added. South Durham has a lot of youth participates in DSSL. It would be great for these kids to have an indoor pool they could continue to train in that did not require a trip across town during the school year.

[Susan Constant]

Why can't our (Durham) Y be merged with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Y instead of Wake County's?

At least the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA is inclusive of its LGBT membership:

Couple – Husband/Wife or Registered Domestic Partners
Family – H/W or Registered Domestic Partners and children up to age 18 (age 22 if in college) in one household
Senior Citizen Couple – H/W or Registered Domestic Partners ages 60 and older

Membership Type...Joining Fees ...Monthly Payment
Adult ...$75 ...$43
Couple ...$100... ...$62 ...
Family ...$100 ...$65 ...
Senior Citizen Couple...$75 ...$53 ...

Durham YMCA, as part of the Triangle YMCA, is not (but will tacitly take the money in a separate but equal way):

Category...Joining Fee...Monthly
H/W w/Dependents...$120.00...$82.48
Adult W/Dependents...$60.00...$43.77
Adult (Ages 29 - 64)...$60.00...$38.71
Senior...$60.00...$34.84

[TSQ75]

hell, i wish they had a straight up couple membership, vs a couple with dependents. it adds up to 2 adult memeberships

[Susan Constant]

Yes, that's to keep it fair for those couples denied legal recognition in this state. Durham, as part of Triangle, refuses to recognize same sex couples, hence the creative way of being separate but equal. Sorry if you feel you're missing out on a deal...welcome to our world!

[TSQ75]

oh no I totally agree. It's insane!

one thing i found completely laughable was that when i asked about the "married couple/family" membership, and asked about what proofs they needed, they essentially laighed and said "oh nothing, just your ID."

someone should totally try to get them on that one...