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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.