Council approves HUD grant for downtown YMCA renovation

Springfield City Council last night unanimously approved the use of $700,000 in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds for the renovation of the downtown YMCA.

The project would add 48 affordable-housing apartment units and over 30,000 square feet of new construction to the YMCA-owned building.

Developer Debbie Shantz Hart of Housing Plus LLC, who is partnering on the project with the Ozarks Regional YMCA, told council members six-10 units would be set aside to serve 18- to 24-year-olds coming out of foster care, with financial support from The Kitchen Inc.’s Rare Breed Youth Services and private donors.

“This is a very difficult population to serve, as you may know,” Hart said. “We've worked a lot with many service providers, including the Missouri Career Center and Rare Breed. You have to have appropriate mentoring and wrap-around services.”

Additional funding is being sought through the Missouri Housing and Development Commission, Hart said, with total project costs estimated at $15 million. She said the HUD funding council approved was contingent upon MHDC funding support, which could be approved by December. A city loan would be sought, she said, if MHDC does not approve the YMCA project for funding.

Through HUD’s Commercial Loan Program, repayment of half of the $700,000 would be deferred for 20 years. Hart said the project should be complete in 2018, when the age of the existing YMCA building reaches 100.

Hart said YMCA services would continue at 417 S. Jefferson Ave. in the basement and on the first floor, with apartment units above and behind the current facility. The building comprises 21,000 square feet, and the expansion plans would bring the total to 53,000 square feet.

Councilman Ken McClure applauded the work being done by Hart, Housing Plus and the YMCA.

“I think it's a fabulous effort to take an iconic facility in downtown Springfield and keep it very vital to our community,” McClure said.