By Staff
NILES - The Niles-Buchanan YMCA has raised the funds and received the bank loans to build a new YMCA at Front and Pokagon streets in Niles. Ground will be broken in September 2005 and the building is expected to be completed in 12-14 months.
This has been an extraordinary effort by many people. The Board of the Niles-Buchanan YMCA has been working on the fundraising, the selecting of architects and construction managers, and asking for and receiving bids for this project for over three years.
There have been successes. Raising enough money in order to approach Standard Federal Bank and Chemical Bank Shoreline to finance the project; selecting Vintage Archonics of Ft. Wayne, Indiana as architects; selecting Weigand, Inc. as construction management; working with local businesses for gifts-in-kind opportunities; saving the historic mural by Janet Seamon and her team of students and relocating it to the new facility; and partnering with Lakeland Hospital on a 20-year lease for their Physical Therapy Department inside the new facility.
There have been setbacks. When the Board of the Y requested bids on the project, they had a shock. Construction costs rose over 40 percent overall. Design changes had to be made with an effort toward maintaining the integrity of the original plan as closely as possible. Square footage of the facility has been reduced and will become Phase I of the project. Phase II will be after more fundraising and growth in our memberships numbers.
Groundbreaking and Construction will begin in September 2005. A Groundbreaking Committee has been formed in order to set a date, and get out invitations to VIPs so that they can put the event on their calendars.
Fundraising continues and anyone wishing to make a gift and or needs a pledge card, you can contact Bret at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA (269) 683-1552. All gifts small or large are greatly appreciated. At the Niles-Buchanan YMCA we build Strong Kids, Strong Families and Strong Communities.