Brooklyn YWCA Closes its Gym Pool

I know this isn't exactly in Prospect Heights, but it is close by - the YWCA on 3rd Ave. is closing its pool and athletic facilities to build low-income housing for women. They put up this press release on their web site:

www.ywcabklyn.org/common/Press%20release.pdf

The athletic facilities are sparse but cheap and good (especially compared to what Equinox charges), but it looks like they will be doing good things with the space. I think it will be good karma, given what Ratner wants to do with that area.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

It makes me a little sad as I learned how to swim in that pool and took gymnastics for many years in the gym.

But the plan looks good, honorable and in keeping with their mission.

The think is, there's a single-room occupancy hotel across the street, so I wonder if that's a lot of homeless density for one area.

Sounds like a great idea to me. There will soon be a YMCA at Atlantic Avenue and Court Street so there is no point in duplicating the gym facilities. Affordable housing is much needed in the area.

Wow - i really will miss that pool - its where I learned to swim.

Where did you hear that DeeDee - do you know which corner the YMCA will be on?

The new YMCA will be on the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Court Street. It's been under construction for over a year. The top floors will be condos and the YMCA will have to full floors and then commercial retail on the ground floor. The project is beind developed by David Walentas -- Two Trees Management.

Medusa, your quote about the YWCA was used in the Daily News article in today's paper.

It's all true! I am so glad DeeDee is a compulsive newspaper reader.

Here's a link to the article that quotes Medusa:
http://www.nydailynews.com/07-17-2005/boroughs/story/328788p-281035c.html

Also, I really appreciate that Elizabeth Hays gave proper credit to Dailyheights.com...

Cool. I'd never really thought of my postings as potential fodder for quote-pulling by reporters.