by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
The Riverside YMCA may have a partner and a new home.
Talks are underway between the YMCA, the City and a swimming group to merge efforts and fund a new location for the Y which would include a major aquatics facility. The building would move off its present riverfront location, with the adjacent Brooklyn community the likely new place.
A non-profit organization, Every Jacksonville Child a Swimmer, Inc., has been trying to fund a natatorium for several years and has put together a high-powered board which includes business leader Rogers “Tiger” Holmes and Olympic Gold Medal winner Nancy Hogshead-Makar, now a professor at the Florida Coastal School of Law.
“Originally we agreed put up $10 million if the EJCS could match that,” said Sharon Ashton, Mayor John Delaney’s spokesman. “However, once we realized that we were looking at a project somewhere near the $50 million range, we agreed to put up $35 million. The rest would need to be raised through private funding.”
The group hasn’t been able to raise the cash, thus the recent talks with the YMCA.
“It’s all speculation right now,” said Holmes, “but we have been in contact with the YMCA in Riverside.”
YMCA President Trigg Wilkes confirmed that the EJCS has approached him with the possibility of a joint venture. One possible scenario would have the branch of the YMCA changing venues while possibly still having the option of managing the new aquatic facilities that would be built in its place.
“We definitely recognize the synergy of the two entities and we are willing operate in close proximity to it,” said Wilkins. “The YMCA has been there for 52 years. So, naturally, the facilities are going to be outdated a bit. The pool now is adequate at best so we could definitely benefit from a new one. Once construction is completed, we’ll be able to provide staffing and child care.”
Wilkes expressed that if moving the branch on Riverside Avenue helps set construction plans into motion, the YMCA would be agreeable, but only to a certain degree.
“If relocating our facilities will further the progress of the natatorium, we are definitely willing to cooperate,” said Wilkins. “We do want to stay in the same area. However, I’ve heard that there was talk of putting the [the natatorium] over by Alltel [stadium]. We don’t want to move that far away.”
The mayor’s office was unable to comment on whether or not the present Yates YMCA could serve as an adequate building site for the natatorium.
“We can’t really talk about any location right now,” said Ashton, “until we have the appropriate funding. Then, we’ll be able to think more seriously about where we can think about building it.”
The YMCA branch — known officially as the Claude J. Yates Family YMCA but more often called either the “Riverside Y” or the “Downtown Y” — has been built and rebuilt over the years, with additions being made to the original structure. There has been speculation of a new building, as there have been few recent renovations and the building’s infrastructure is old.
New workout equipment was installed over the Thanksgiving holidays but could easily be moved.
It is known that the Downtown Development Authority wants to redevelop Brooklyn, the area to the west of the YMCA that now contains aging homes.
The YMCA’s present location would be attractive to a developer as that strip is becoming a hot property.
The YMCA is located on the Northbank between the Acosta and Fuller Warren bridges in an area that also includes the Times-Union building, a vacant lot, the new St. Joe headquarters and the Alltel building.
The widening of Riverside Avenue will come in the next year or so, with nearby Forest Street also being widened and connected to I-95.