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The YMCA of Greater Indianapolis plans to close its location at the historic Athenaeum building, which opened in 1894 with an emphasis on fitness and became a YMCA site in 1992.
The YMCA location’s closure is scheduled for March 28, according to an email sent to members on Thursday afternoon.
“After thoughtful discussions with our valued partners at the Athenaeum Foundation, we have decided to transition YMCA services as they currently exist from the Athenaeum location to our other existing centers,” YMCA of Greater Indianapolis CEO Gregg Hiland wrote in the email.
Hiland’s email indicated that the Athenaeum Foundation “is exploring exciting new opportunities for this space.” On Thursday, an Athenaeum Foundation representative directed questions to the YMCA. Attempts to reach representatives of the YMCA were unsuccessful.
In terms of providing a reason for the closure, Hiland wrote that the decision “was made with the goal of ensuring our organization’s long-term sustainability while continuing to meet the needs of our members and the community.”
The email noted that members of the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis are welcome at all locations. No transfers or sign-ups are required for members who seek a new center after the Athenaeum location closes.
Before the pandemic, downtown Indianapolis was home to three YMCA locations: YMCA at the Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St.; YMCA at City Market, 242 E. Market St.; and Irsay Family YMCA at CityWay, 430 S. Alabama St.
After March 28, the Irsay Family center—which opened in 2015—will be the lone downtown location. The YMCA at City Market opened in 2011 and closed in 2020.
The overall number of YMCA of Greater Indianapolis locations will decrease from 12 to 11.
The Athenaeum, originally known as Das Deutsche Haus, was closely associated with “turners,” or German-American gymnasts. In 1907, the building became home of Normal College of the North American Gymnastic Union.
When the YMCA at the Athenaeum opened in 1992, it ended a 21-year drought of no centers in downtown Indianapolis. The Central YMCA at Illinois and New York streets closed in 1971.
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There was the Fall Creek YMCA which was a very active Y for many years starting in 1958/9. It was the Y that replaced the Senate Avenue YMCA (1912) and the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA (1923), both built for the Black community in Indianapolis, with established operations that predated their buildings by decades. Dr. Martin Luther King spoke at the Fall Creek YMCA in 1958 at one of the famous Monster Meetings that were a legacy series at the Senate Avenue Y. It ceased operations as a Y in 2003. One more very important piece of Indianapolis Black history no longer around to tell its story.
This seems very short sighted on the Y’s part.
As housing continues to grow downtown the need and potential for fitness centers should be increasing. How can a NFP not make it renting space from a NFP?
Is this really about consolidation or because it doesn’t have a swimming pool?
Please reconsider.
Just because you are a non-profit doesn’t mean that you have unlimited funds and don’t have to pay for utilities, water, personnel, equipment and other necessities, etc.
Not really, because damn near every condo/apartment building built within the last 15 years INCLUDES an onsite fitness center/gym!!
Is housing really growing downtown, though? I struggle to think of many major projects finishing in 2024. Plenty of hotels, but not much in the way of new housing. THIS building would make a very cool condo building if there is appetite for redevelopment.
Michael:
Downtown Indianapolis has seen a significant increase in housing over the past five years, with more people moving in and more apartments being built.
Population
The population of downtown Indianapolis has increased by 46% since 2010.
The number of families living downtown has increased by 66.4% since 2010.
Apartments
More than 3,000 apartments have been added to downtown Indianapolis in the last five years.
The average monthly rent for a downtown apartment was $1,594 in 2022.
Homes
The median sales price of a home downtown was $415,000 in 2022.
The number of homes for sale is gradually increasing, offering buyers more options.
Other trends
The hotel occupancy rate in downtown Indianapolis has more than doubled in the past four years.
The number of visitors, businesses, and hotels in downtown Indianapolis is on the rise.
3 to 1 over the last few years. sounds like we are saving on cost at the expense of member experience. Now the one that remains will experience overcrowding and decrease in positive membership experience. I will go look elsewhere but perhaps that is what they are looking for people to do.
Maybe they could get the Village People to do a fund raiser…
Sad news for the Mass Ave District. The YMCA has been a major anchor of the district for decades, the hub if you will. My family will no longer continue our memberships with them at any location once the Athenaeum is closed. We will seek a different fitness center closer to our neighborhood.
The Fitness Zone, on the campus of Arsenal Tech High School, is a great place to join, close to much of the housing downtown. Part of the John Boner Neighborhood Centers program.
The site may continue as a fitness center depending on what the Athenaeum Foundation, owner and manager of the National Historic Landmark building, decides to do. As one of the respondents above noted the downtown demographic is there. And the building has served in that capacity since it’s founding by the Sozialer Turnverein in 1894. “Mens sana in copore sano.”
While change is hard and closing any location hurts, does anyone think that the Y would close this location if it was thriving or sustainable? This is a Christian based values organization that cares about communities. I’m sure this decision was not taken lightly. Sure there are other options… but I will remain a donor and advocate of the organization.
The Y has another location less than 2 miles which is full service (pool and full amenities) facility. It should also be noted that the Irsay facility is (or was) the largest Y in the state at the time of opening. The Y is not leaving downtown.
Also the YMCA has continued to invest in multiple communities around Indianapolis over recent years including the Avondale and Orthoindy locations. This organization needs our support as a community now more than ever.
The statement that the Y is not leaving downtown is not exactly true for the several hundred seniors and those with disabilities who live in 1 of the 400 apartments for seniors and those with disabilities across the street from the Athenaeum.
While certainly not all of them utilize the Y that is closing, many of them that do have no transportation. Therefore, saying the Irsay Y is less than 2 miles away would give them little comfort.
If the decision to close this location is final, then hopefully the Athenaeum powers that be will strongly keep in mind the following when considering what to do with the vacated space:
Physical activities play an important role in maintaining health, well-being, and quality of life for everyone. However, for seniors and those with disabilities, physical activity also can help support their daily living activities and independence.