As the sounds of saws and drills noisily announce long-awaited renovations are underway at the Metro Central YMCA-YWCA, staff are preparing for a post-renovation membership explosion.
Membership is expected to almost double from about 5,000 to as many as 10,000 within 18 months of renovations being completed next March, says Rob Adams, the YMCA-YWCA’s regional director.
The membership numbers come from a 2009 market study of people living within a 15-minute walk of Metro Central on Argyle Street, says Deirdre Speers, vice-president of children and community services.
Speers, who is overseeing the renovations, says the facility can accommodate more members by adding more exercise equipment, installing more lockers, and reorganizing services within the building.
She says the facility was not being used to capacity before the renovations started in April.
Housing services at Metro Central have been cut from 12 to eight floors.
Speers says there is now “a higher occupancy on fewer floors” and that those four vacated floors will be used for offices and other services.
She says no one was displaced because of fewer housing units being available.
The childcare and youth spaces are currently split between the first and second floors.
They'll be moved permanently beginning this month to the second floor to create a family-focused zone.
This change should improve safety because supervisors will be able to work as a team to move people out of the building, rather than having to go between two floors, Speers says.
Other safety improvements include updating the electrical and mechanical systems, and the removal of asbestos-laden ceiling tiles.
Speers says proper procedures are being followed to safely remove the asbestos such as sealing construction areas, spraying waste and double bagging.
While renovations are ongoing, Speers says the goal is to deliver “seamless service” and, so far, people have adapted well to challenges.
She received few complaints from members about power outages and the pool closure over the summer.
Virginia Carver, a 10-year member of Metro Central location, says the disruptions have been minimal.
“You have to figure out which way you come into the building. It’s not a big deal,” Carver says.
“It’ll just be really nice to see it when it’s finished, ” she says.