YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo Concept

(Courtesy)

A preliminary site plan shows the addition to the YMCA Kalamazoo location on 1001 W. Maple St. (Courtesy | City of Kalamazoo)

KALAMAZOO, MI -- To offer more services and better serve the community, YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo is undergoing a $6 million expansion.

The plans include building a 7,300-square-foot addition to a community service building and creating two full-time and 12 part-time jobs to keep up with an anticipated increase in use. A preliminary site plan shows the addition to its Kalamazoo location on 1001 W. Maple St. would be one story tall and include a multi-purpose room, a facility for youth and infants, an elevator, kitchenette, storage spaces and offices.

It would also contain an accessible entrance for members and employees.

On Thursday, Oct. 3, the city of Kalamazoo Planning Commission approved a special use permit request. The final site plan for the project will be reviewed and approved by the Site Plan Review Committee.

So far, the YMCA has raised $3.5 million and hopes to raise an additional $1.5 million from a public capital campaign that will be kicked off after the Nov. 8 election. President and CEO Steve Springsdorf said the remaining balance will be paid directly by the YMCA.

A 20 percent increase in community usage is expected between the Kalamazoo and Portage locations. About 18,000 people use the local YMCA facilities each year for youth development, health classes and exercise and social services, among other things.

"We're excited because it will create better access for all in our communities," Springsdorf said. "Those with disabilities, our growing senior population and in particular young families, don't have a lot of resources. We'll be better prepared to meet their needs and expand services and I think that will make a dynamic YMCA to support a dynamic community."

The additional space will allow the YMCA to increase programming Springsdorf said. He said services won't be diminished during construction, but acknowledged staff will have to do a "juggling routine" to continue offering programming .

Some might be offered outside the Maple Street location or at the YMCA in Portage.

Springsdorf said construction is likely to begin before Dec. 1 and finish in late-spring 2017. The Kalamazoo expansion is the second phase of a three-part capital improvement plan.

A section of the parking lot will be moved into a wooded area at the south side of the site to replace spaces taken up by the new addition. In turn, 18 trees will be removed for the new spaces, however approximately 60 feet of the wooded area will remain as a barrier for nearby apartments.

Thirty-one new trees and 46 shrubs trees will be planted on the site. Improvements are also planned to the storm water system in the parking lot.

City planning staff stated the expansion is not anticipated to have any negative environmental impacts on the property or adjacent properties. Springsdorf said local firm TowerPinkster was hired as the architect and AVB will manage the construction.

The facility was first built in 1970 and is classified as a community service center for planning and zoning purposes. Educational programs are offered as well as fitness and recreational activities.

Two buildings owned by the YMCA currently contain two swimming pools, eight tennis courts, an indoor track, a weight room, racket ball courts, two gymnasiums, locker rooms, a tot area, a pre-school facility, and a youth center.

The YMCA has about 280 full and part-time employees in total at its Kalamazoo, Portage and Lincoln International Studies School branches.