Leaders at YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley opt for major renovation instead of building new facility
By Stefan Yablonski
The Rome YMCA is getting a facelift — one room at a time.
“We are refocusing our capital efforts. The board of directors determined the gap in financing was too great to overcome to construct a new facility, which was planned for Floyd Avenue,” explained Hank Leo, CEO at YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley. “Due to rising construction prices and the residual impact of the pandemic, the YMCA turned toward repurposing its 1971 building to modernize and improve the entire facility.”
The renovations actually started a couple months ago.
A master plan was created utilizing architects, engineers, member and staff input and construction managers to determine the best way to upgrade the facility.
The roof and HVAC were the first and primary needs of the building, Leo said.
Recently, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced at the Rome YMCA, that he and Assemblywoman Marianne Buttonschon would support a new roof and HVAC system at $3.4 million.
“That’s going to help with the part that nobody will see; but it is probably the most important part of the project,” he said. “We start from the top down. HVAC is traditionally really important.”
“We are working hard. We are taking a room by room approach, addressing any structural and functional needs as we see fit,” he added.
Because they are taking a room by room approach, they are not looking at it as a total cost.
“The YMCA and engineers started planning the refurbishment of each space — beginning with the gymnasium and second floor health and wellness rooms,” he said. “To date, the gym has received new paint, backboards, baskets and a planned divider curtain replacement began on Aug. 19. The gym will also get a refurbished floor the week of Aug. 25. The pool was drained, repaired, cleaned, refilled and balanced the week of Aug. 11.”
A former cycling spin room has been gutted, Leo said. It has new sheetrock, it was painted and is receiving new HVAC, podium and lighting, he said.
“On Sept. 11, a new line of cardio equipment is being delivered to what will be the newly renovated cardio room on the second floor,” Leo added. “This room will also receive a complete makeover. New cardio equipment totaling $175,000 is being leased to fill the room, which includes treadmills, stairmasters, upright and recumbent bikes and other pieces, furnished by LifeFitness.”
The YMCA has applied for the recently announced NYBRICKS funding in hopes of renovating the first floor — including new locker rooms, showers, childcare areas and teen rooms.
They are also applying for New York State Childcare Funding and other grants, Leo said.
“Each of those sources, we are addressing for specific needs. We have started some of the work. We started a gym and the second floor with funds that we already had in house,” he said.
Interrupted programs?
“Yes … well I don’t want to say interrupted — I want to say displaced. We have moved them to other spaces. So they haven’t been canceled, we are just using other portions of the building,” Leo said. “This building is 55,000 square feet. There were a few spaces that we under utilized. So temporarily, they are serving as rooms for places that we are working on.”
A third phase is being planned to increase parking, lobby, lawn space and landscaping in the future.
The Rome YMCA has served the community for more than 150 years and is the leader in youth and family programming in the region.
The YMCA is the largest provider of childcare in the region, serving nearly 400 children in 23 locations. It also operates a summer day camp in three locations: Rome, Oneida and Whitesboro.
The YMCA has approximately 7,000 members served between Rome and Oneida and is one of the oldest charities in the community and country.
“People have a lot of great memories of the Y. They have been coming here for a long time,” Leo said. “People are sentimental about the Y.
“We hope to have this all done by the end of next year — which would be great. Putting on a new roof is not an easy thing. Putting on new HVAC units is not easy. Those are scheduled way out and delivery times are not like they used to be. I talked to the contractor and he said, ‘even if you got us the approval by October we wouldn’t be able to engineer it and get it in until fall of 2026.’ Things take time. Good things come to those who wait.
“I am going to make sure we do this the best way that we possibly can. Keep [the Y] going for as long as it needs to go. So we’re going to do our best!”