Renovation plans underway 1 year after YMCA fire

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — This week is the anniversary of the fire at the YMCA on Market Street that forced the facility to close for months.

On February 7, 2015, fire officials said a fire broke out in the suana room. 

Since the fire, YMCA staff said friends, partners, neighbors, employees and the Greater Wilmington community have supported the Wilmington Family YMCA in a way that allowed them to be a Y without a building.

A spokesman said they are now focused on rebuilding of the Y at 2710 Market Street.

“The tremendous support for this effort is reaffirming,” CEO Dick Jones said. “For the past 50 years 2710 Market Street has been home to the Wilmington Family YMCA.  With the project we are about to launch, it will be our home for another 50 plus years.”

The YMCA’s Board of Directors recently approved a conceptual vision for the YMCA which supports a broader focus on Youth, Aquatics, and Wellness.

“The design provides more space for youth programming, helping us to play a bigger role in addressing youth violence in our community,” Jones said. “As one of the leading providers of aquatics in our community we are acutely aware of the lack if swimming venues.”

Jones said their vision includes a new aquatics facility to help address the shortage.

The YMCA has also initiated a Capital campaign under the leadership of Cecil Worsley, III. The Y is also releasing RFPs this week to engage a construction manager and an architect to begin the planning and pre-construction work necessary to rebuild.

“The board is united around this vision,” Jones said. “A year ago we said the Y is more than just a building, and the incredible growth in Y programming is a testament to this fact.  However, as members, program participants, and those in the community agree, we all want to be back home at the Y.”