Council push to redevelop controversial YMCA site in Walkerville
An inner-north YMCA - that thousands have been rallying to save - could be turned into a new venue like a childcare centre, theatre, school or a swimming pool under a new Walkerville Council plan.
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Wanted by Walkerville Council: a long-term tenant who is willing to invest and redevelop the site currently occupied by the Inner North East of Adelaide YMCA.
The council this week agreed to go out to tender to find an organisation with plans to turn the ageing building it into a new community complex like a childcare centre, church, theatre or pool.
The offer includes the Fuller Street Works Depot that backs onto the Inner North East of Adelaide YMCA site.
It is the final nail in the coffin for the YMCA, which has called the venue home for decades, and its thousands of members and supporters who have rallied to keep the Smith St venue open for the 60,000 people who use it annually.
But Walkerville Mayor Elizabeth Fricker said any sort of redevelopment would benefit both the council and community.
“It is a beautiful site, as in land mass, and it is the right time to do this,” she said.
“(It) is a perfect site where we can retain the asset, but develop it so that our residents get some return and we won’t be so reliant on rates.”
A council report into the state of the current YMCA building said the building had “concrete cancer” and was nearing the end of its life.
It said repairs would cost $500,000, but they would not significantly improve a building the council says is worth about $880,000.
Chris Revell, who hires the premises for an exercise program, said the YMCA should be retained because it was a much-loved community asset.
“It is a pity to see something go that has been used by so many people,” she said.
The council confirmed in November last year it had no intention of renewing the YMCA’s lease past December this year.
Colin Organ, chief executive of the Inner North East Adelaide YMCA, said it was too early to tell if his organisation would respond to the council’s call for expressions of interest.
Labor Legislative Council member Emily Bourke has had to postpone a community meeting about the site’s future because of COVID-19 restrictions.