OFFICIAL - New Downtown YMCA (former Lyric Theater)

[aknowledgeableperson]

One floor?
Two floors?
Three floors?
Four floors?

One floor would be just larger than 1/2 of Bartle Hall.
Two floors would take up about 1 1/2 blocks

[coreyo]

A smart developer would considering partnering with the YMCA or at least watching closely and building a new rental apartment skyscraper directly across the street from this center.

[Midtownkid]

This should def be put together with a larger development. I know a central location is ideal, but really EV would do well with this as an anchor. I still say leave Grand open for future, more high-end development. We have been patient this long, lets just wait a little longer for retail/condo/office construction along Grand

[moderne]

I've talked to a lot of retired businessmen who worked out at the old DT Y long before there were health clubs and residential fitness facilities. Return the Y to its KC roots and put it close to where it used to be in East Village(there is also an East Village in Des Moines that is sorta like KC's Crossroads.)

[GRID]

Uh...if they're willing to build inside the loop, why would we not want them to do that? Leave the Mark Twain building for another use that can't afford new construction.

exactly, build new and replace parking lots every chance you get. The Mark Twain Building will eventually get renovated and should probably be saved for residential anyway since KC can't seem to get prices high enough for new residential construction. Keep filling in the bare spots and adding amenities like this YMCA and rents will increase enough to warrant new construction.

[IraGlacialis]

Uh...if they're willing to build inside the loop, why would we not want them to do that? Leave the Mark Twain building for another use that can't afford new construction.

While it would be optimal for them to take up and build on a surface lot, it still wouldn't be bad if they decide to refurbish an older structure and stay within the Loop in the process.
Just saying...

[KC-wildcat]

I think it's high time KCMO started striving for the "optimal" and quit settling for the "not bad." just sayin.

[IraGlacialis]

Well, in any case, it is up to the YMCA as to what they would want to do.
At least they are expressing interest in setting up in the loop.

[FangKC]

Well, in any case, it is up to the YMCA as to what they would want to do.
At least they are expressing interest in setting up in the loop.

It might come down to if someone donates a site to the YMCA for the building.

[mykem]

How big would a 100,000 sq. foot building be? Floors. Footprint. Can someone suggest a similar-sized building for comparison?

The Downtown Detroit YMCA pictured earlier in this thread is three stories, 100,000 sq ft, and occupies one whole block.

http://www.smithgroup.com/repository/documents/983.pdf

[taxi]

It's funny, I've been following this thread since the announcement but it never occurred to me that it is very likely I will become a member of the new Y (even though I am neither young nor Christian, but I am a man!).

So, downtown forumers, how many of you go to the current Y and how many will likely use the new, fancy-pants, urban anchor of a Y (no matter where it is, as long as it's within the loop or very close by)?

[loftguy]

[quote="taxi"]I am neither young nor Christian but I am a man!.
quote]

Congrats on the Bar Mitzvah! Where can I send the pen and pencil set?

Regarding the Y. If it has a pool, I am likely there. Actually, a steam room would be nice, too. I've got such a holiday belly going that I could easily be one of those old guys that hangs around in a towel, chewing an unlit cigar.

[moosnsqrl]

It's funny, I've been following this thread since the announcement but it never occurred to me that it is very likely I will become a member of the new Y (even though I am neither young nor Christian, but I am a man!).

So, downtown forumers, how many of you go to the current Y and how many will likely use the new, fancy-pants, urban anchor of a Y (no matter where it is, as long as it's within the loop or very close by)?

I'm surprised the Y has never re-branded itself in all of these years. Scouting, Campfire International and probably lots more I'm not thinking of have updated their names to be more inclusive and/or descriptive. I doubt even 25% of their membership are Y, M, or C. I guess getting metrosexuals to join the Old Jewish Women's Klatsch would be a tough sell but you would think they could do better. If ever it were going to happen, though, it would have been in the 70s to distance themselves from the Village People.

[taxi]

I am neither young nor Christian but I am a man!.
quote]

Congrats on the Bar Mitzvah! Where can I send the pen and pencil set?

Regarding the Y. If it has a pool, I am likely there. Actually, a steam room would be nice, too. I've got such a holiday belly going that I could easily be one of those old guys that hangs around in a towel, chewing an unlit cigar.

Careful, Loftguy, that's not a cigar!

[KC-wildcat]

I'm surprised the Y has never re-branded itself in all of these years. Scouting...

I think they have rebranded themselves, as evidenced by your own post. YMCA facilities are now referred to as "the Y." In fact, "the Y" is their registered mark. Go to their homepage: http://ymca.net/about-us/

"Welcome to the Y. We're an inclusive organization of men, women and children joined together by a shared commitment to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility."

Boy Scouts of America not really a good comparison. Though the web address is scouting.org, "BSA" and "Boy Scouts of America" have not been phased out. And the organization is exclusively "boy" scouts.

[moosnsqrl]

I'm surprised the Y has never re-branded itself in all of these years. Scouting...

I think they have rebranded themselves, as evidenced by your own post. YMCA facilities are now referred to as "the Y." In fact, "the Y" is their registered mark. Go to their homepage: http://ymca.net/about-us/

"Welcome to the Y. We're an inclusive organization of men, women and children joined together by a shared commitment to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility."

Boy Scouts of America not really a good comparison. Though the web address is scouting.org, "BSA" and "Boy Scouts of America" have not been phased out. And the organization is exclusively "boy" scouts.

Lazy people like me have been shortening it to "the Y" forever so not sure I would say they rebranded themselves; rather they stopped fighting the nickname and embraced it. Maybe they should go a step further and call it The Why.

"Scouting," however, was intentional IIRC. I think I remember them getting some blow-back from the Girl Scouts for taking the broader designation as their own, but attempts to find references were scuttled by the plethora of lawsuits Scouting has found itself party to, due to their anti-gay stance (among other things). They do have a co-ed component (from age 14) which I see is now called Venturers. They started letting girls into Explorers decades ago.

[AJoD]

Lazy people like me have been shortening it to "the Y" forever so not sure I would say they rebranded themselves; rather they stopped fighting the nickname and embraced it.

This is true, of course, but I had a guy at the Y as a client and it was certainly viewed as a major rebranding effort internally, yes acknowledged as embracing the nickname, but also a way to embrace their actual users and mission.

NY Times: "One of the nation’s most iconic nonprofit organizations, founded 166 years ago in England as the Young Men’s Christian Association, is undergoing a major rebranding, adopting as its name the nickname everyone has used for generations."

[moosnsqrl]

I stand humbly corrected.

[KC-wildcat]

Not trying to correct you. Just providing my own opinion. That's why I started my post with "I think..."

[moosnsqrl]

Not trying to correct you. Just providing my own opinion. That's why I started my post with "I think..."

No - that was aimed at AJoD, who used the venerable NY Times to point out my ignorance.