YMCA will build new location in downtown Durham after development deal fell apart
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Photo: Courtesy of the YMCA of the Triangle
The YMCA of the Triangle will build a new facility in downtown Durham next to the Durham Performing Arts Center, the organization said Thursday.
Why it matters: The move comes after a previous development deal to build a 27-story tower atop the existing downtown Durham YMCA fell apart due to financing difficulties, YMCA of the Triangle CEO Bruce Ham tells Axios.
- That facility, located at 218 W. Morgan St., dates back to 1996, and its aging infrastructure needs upgrades, according to the organization.
- The goal now is to build a new building and sell the Morgan Street property once the new gym opens in 2028.
Driving the news: The new facility will be on a 0.79-acre property, currently used for some parking, at the corner of Blackwell and Pettigrew streets in the American Tobacco District.
- The YMCA will buy the land from the real estate arm of Capitol Broadcasting, the owner of WRAL, the Durham Bulls and the American Tobacco District.
- Capitol Broadcasting will develop the new gym for the YMCA. They are expected to break ground next year.
Zoom in: The new facility — estimated to cost $46 million — is still in the design phase, according to Ham, but the goal is for it to have 65,000 square feet of space and feature:
- Rooftop terraces for outdoor fitness
- An indoor pool
- A full basketball court and indoor track
- Group fitness studio and space for youth and family programming
- And 80 on-site parking spaces and access to several nearby parking decks.
Between the lines: Ham said the final look of the building hasn't been decided, but there have been plenty of discussions about how to bring brick and glass together to meld with the modern architecture of DPAC with the historic American Tobacco campus.
What they're saying: Local YMCA leadership began consulting with the community as they considered plans for downtown about six years ago, Ham told Axios.
- "And what we heard is that the YMCA in downtown Durham is like Durham's living room and that it was important not to move out of the downtown area. We heard that really loudly."
State of play: The YMCA and Capitol Broadcasting have a long history of collaboration, including a small wellness center that has operated within the American Tobacco Campus since 2005.
- In 2012, the two also worked together on "The Cage," an outdoor multipurpose space within the ATC that is frequently used for basketball, soccer and other community activities.