Category: News || By

The YMCA of McKeesport will reopen its fitness center in a new --- probably temporary --- location as the organization struggles to get back onto its feet.

At a meeting Monday, the city's Zoning Hearing Board gave unanimous approval to the YMCA to relocate its exercise programs to the former Frank R. Bondi Medical Building on Evans Avenue, near UPMC McKeesport hospital.

A variance was necessary because the building's C-1 commercial zoning would not normally permit a health club, said Chris House, city zoning officer. Fitness centers are permitted in C-2 zoning districts.

"Eventually we would hope to build a new facility," said Gary Nowading, district vice president of the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh.

. . .

The Pittsburgh Y probably will absorb the McKeesport YMCA, which was founded in 1888, before the end of this year, he said. The YMCA of McKeesport has been operating at a deficit and reportedly carries a half-million dollars in debt.

"We did not just want to abandon McKeesport and we wanted to find someplace else where we could continue to provide service," Nowading said.

The fitness center in the YMCA's existing building on Sinclair Street closed June 1, and its Olympic-size swimming pool closed two weeks earlier.

Educational programs at McKeesport Area High School and two city housing projects have continued without interruption, said Anne Messner, administrative assistant to Dexter Hairston, McKeesport YMCA executive director.

About 90 low-income tenants whose housing is paid for by Allegheny County are living in the YMCA, but they will leave when the Y's contract expires in June 2010. "We are getting out of the housing business in McKeesport," Nowading said.

. . .

That will leave the 87-year-old landmark completely empty. The YMCA will probably try to sell the building, said Steven Nathanson, facilities director for the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh.

An engineering analysis concluded the Sinclair Street building needs between $6 million and $8 million in repairs to stay open, he said, which is money the McKeesport YMCA doesn't have.

The building is assessed at $707,000, according to county tax records.

In addition, "the heating and water and electrical bills are just insurmountable," Messner said.

. . .

The Bondi Building is owned by UPMC McKeesport hospital, which will let the McKeesport YMCA rent space for a nominal cost, she said, and utility costs will be greatly reduced.

About 60 people, mostly part-time, were employed when the fitness center was open, Messner said. When the new fitness center on Evans Avenue opens, preference will be given to former McKeesport Y employees, she said.

The McKeesport YMCA will try to get as many of its former members back, Messner said, "except for the swimming people --- we'll never get them back" without a pool.

Y patrons will be able to use for free a 35-car parking lot across the street, she said, and the fitness center will likely be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

. . .

Although McKeesporters might find the loss of the Y's independence after 120 years a bitter pill, a merger would bring certain benefits. Employees of UPMC, for instance, would be eligible for a reduced corporate membership rate that was not available at the McKeesport YMCA, Nowading said.

Members of the Pittsburgh Y also can apply for "associate-wide" membership, which would allow people who join in McKeesport to use other YMCA facilities in downtown Pittsburgh, Wilmerding and Penn Hills, he said.

The new fitness center could be operational sometime in November, Messner said.

"We want to continue to stay in McKeesport and this is our opportunity to keep our foot in the door," she said.