Clarification: David Foster with the Hutchinson YMCA noted that the formal fundraising for the YMCA related to the new building will begin following the United Way's blackout period when agencies that receive United Way funding are asked to allow their annual campaign to be the sole fundraising appeal.
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — David Foster with the Hutchinson YMCA said the expansion plans for the Hutch Y are going forward.
"Just knowing our current location and the proximity to the high school, to the college, to the Cosmosphere, to the Sports Arena, there's probably not a Y in the country that wouldn't want to be in a location like that," Foster said. "Kind of that central hub of activity. That's something that we're really excited about. As we look to move forward and build a new Y here in Hutch, we would love to stay in the location that we're in right now. That obviously would involve a little bit more space and land. That's what we're kind of exploring, that partnership with USD 308, to see what that might look like."
The cost for a new Y is going to be substantial.
"Just seven years ago, our Newton YMCA was built new," Foster said. "That was about a $20 million project. With the costs of things the way they are now, we're probably thinking around $30 million or something like that. We don't know that for a fact yet, but to plan accordingly. We're going to try to get to $20 million of that and then we'll be able to start moving forward with the new facility and everything."
It will take some time to raise those funds.
"Realistically, probably within the next year," Foster said. "Once you break ground and stuff like that, you're maybe talking another year. Obviously, if we could get the money part raised a little bit faster, that could speed up that time frame a little bit. As a general rule, that's probably a couple years, then hopefully be able to beat that a little bit, but you just never know with construction."
The hope would be to keep the current facility open as much as possible while working on the new building and they still need to find out from an architect if they will be able to keep any of the old building in the long run or not and they won't really get to that point in the process until they have raised around half of the cost.
The current Y is open Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 716 East 13th.
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