Riverside YMCA

[vicupstate]

I am certain if an experienced developer came up with an approximate figure, they considered, and probably looked into asbestos, and Voila , there was none .

So where is your knight in shining armor with 10 million? Go ask Rummell and Haskell to raise the 10 million for you and I am sure you will find all of the anti-Hogans you want to help with this dream. If all it needs is 10 million, why hasn't it been done yet?

Actually, in a normal market, the sale of the existing site should cover the mast majority of that $10mm since prime Riverfront land is much more valuable than a detriorating school next to a freeway. 

It would cost a similiar amount to build a new facility on the current site. YMCAs are non-profits that already raise their capital budgets through philanthrophy. 

I know I would be more willing to contribute for a historic preservation project than a run of the mill new building.

Doug, I have been in the DC facility and the traffic noise does not register, and the freeway was just as close.  The sounds of treadmills, weight machines, etc. easily mask whatever traffic noise bled into the facility. I never noticed the freeway until I walked out of the building and walk around to the backside, where the freeway was.

BTW, you can't watch the sunset from most vantage points inside the YMCA now.  The workout area overlooks Riverside Ave., not the river. 

The visibility and uniqueness of this facility would boost membership IMO.

Really folks, why do the imaginative renovations/reuse of buildings have to be always be ELSEWHERE.   

[Timkin]

I think I follow what you're saying.. Put a Marina in where the Y is now..  But why is it , in your eyes , that YMCA should remain on a Riverfront ,as opposed to, say a Restaurant / Marina on the site.  Not many Marinas I have been to , have a YMCA attached to them.. in fact , none that I know of. Will gladly stand corrected If I am wrong.   The current YMCA Building needs to be replaced either way...so why not sell the entire tract to someone to create your Marina and an Eating destination , and move the Y a little over +/- mile to Annie Lytle.. its a win-win.. a destination / Marina created in the place of the Y , a  historic building saved by a wonderful reuse for it .

No problem at all with the boat ramp.. But why not put the YMCA in a well known location very close by.... what would be the difference in travel time ...4 minutes tops?  besides if you're swimming or excercising, I doubt you are paying attention to boat traffic on the river, or loading or unloading of boats at a ramp.   Not sure that I understand the correlation of the two.

[Timkin]

I am certain if an experienced developer came up with an approximate figure, they considered, and probably looked into asbestos, and Voila , there was none .

So where is your knight in shining armor with 10 million? Go ask Rummell and Haskell to raise the 10 million for you and I am sure you will find all of the anti-Hogans you want to help with this dream. If all it needs is 10 million, why hasn't it been done yet?

Actually, in a normal market, the sale of the existing site should cover the mast majority of that $10mm since prime Riverfront land is much more valuable than a detriorating school next to a freeway. 

It would cost a similiar amount to build a new facility on the current site. YMCAs are non-profits that already raise their capital budgets through philanthrophy. 

I know I would be more willing to contribute for a historic preservation project than a run of the mill new building.

Doug, I have been in the DC facility and the traffic noise does not register, and the freeway was just as close.  The sounds of treadmills, weight machines, etc. easily mask whatever traffic noise bled into the facility. I never noticed the freeway until I walked out of the building and walk around to the backside, where the freeway was.

BTW, you can't watch the sunset from most vantage points inside the YMCA now.  The workout area overlooks Riverside Ave., not the river. 

The visibility and uniqueness of this facility would boost membership IMO.

Really folks, why do the imaginative renovations/reuse of buildings have to be always be ELSEWHERE.   

Vicupstate, have you been in the Annie Lytle Building??  with Insulated windows and the A/C running , unless you are looking , you would not even realize the traffic is out there. 

[vicupstate]

^^ Not hard to believe, the walls are like what 18" thick, or is it 24"?

[Timkin]

21" in most areas, thicker than that in others. Built to last (well except the wooden elements and everything the vandals destroyed )

If Ock's idea for it as a Skyway extension came to pass, that would also help to pay the tab for rehabbing / purchase of the building. 

Whether Mr. Milne would allow all the adjacent land to go, without forever having his hand in the pie, is hard to tell.  Looks like after 30 plus years , he would be glad to sell. Tarpon probably would sell to get out from under it as well.

[wsansewjs]

I hate to break it to you, but no YMCA would be a YMCA without its swimming pool. How are you going to build a swimming pool at the School #4?

-Josh

[Timkin]

There is adequate land area around the school to accomplish that.  There also would be the Auditorium space which would easily hold a large swimming pool.  The Auditorium ...well in the worst shape of the whole building of course would lose whats left of the Grand Stage. and since other than the four walls would need to be replaced, I think the Auditorium space would easily hold the pool.

[SunKing]

Why wouldn't the Y just rebuild or reuse what it has?  It already owns its site and nobody is willing to pay top dollar for the Y site in this market.  A better use for Annie Lytle and the neighborhood is something that is not already located there.

[ChriswUfGator]

Actually I couldn't possibly think of a better use for the school than the Y, it would work well. But cost not cost effective.

[mtraininjax]

While everyone was falling over themselves to rescue Annie Lytle, the Daily Record reported this information:

The YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh announced Monday that its chief executive officer, Eric Mann, has accepted the position of CEO of the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast in Jacksonville and will remain with the Greater Pittsburgh Y through June 30. Mann said he is making the move to be closer to his and his wife’s families.

So now you know who to call to rebuild Annie Lytle with a HUGE Y on the front of it.

[Timkin]

Thanks, M-train. you're awesome

[blizz01]

Interesting article.  Notice how easy it is to name drop Mr. Khan these days:

Mayor Brown doesn't want Yates YMCA to build on the river

If Shad Khan wants to build a mixed-use development there...which would you rather have?  That or the Y?  Clap your hands if you want the $100 million development!"

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/2012/03/mayor-brown-doesnt-want-yates-y-to.html

[Adam W]

I'm afraid I already know the answer to this question, but:

Doesn't anyone else like the YMCA building? I'm not talking about the inside of it (I've never been into it and can't offer an opinion), but I was always quite fond of the architecture and was opposed to it being demolished.

[ben says]

I'm afraid I already know the answer to this question, but:

Doesn't anyone else like the YMCA building? I'm not talking about the inside of it (I've never been into it and can't offer an opinion), but I was always quite fond of the architecture and was opposed to it being demolished.

Never been inside either--hear it's terribly dated--but the exterior does not offend me.

[Dog Walker]

It's a maze inside since it has been expanded and remodeled several times.