By Ronnie Reese
Special to Inside
The Lake View YMCA has experienced much in its nearly 77 years of existence, and as the times and neighborhood have changed around it, so too has the organization. Now it has created a task force to devise 12 rehabilitation scenarios for its worn-out building.
Formerly know as the Lincoln-Belmont YMCA, the Y was originally built as a hotel for men who had come to Chicago seeking employment. At the time, the average stay was two days.
Now, residents of the 224-unit SRO (single room occupancy) facility stay for five, 10, 20 years or more, an example of the evolution of needs among the people in the community it serves. "Over the years, our mission has changed," says Executive Director Richard Clegg, "but how we deliver that mission never stops changing." Clegg, who has worked for YMCA organizations in Ohio, Michigan and now Illinois for the past 21 years, has long been a part of the Y experience. "I've been kicked out of the Y more times than I care to admit," he reveals. "I started life guarding when I was 17 and literally haven't left."
In addition to the swimmers, what is also in need of protection is the building itself, the construction of which was made possible in the 1920s when a philanthropist donated $185,000 to house some of the city's immigrants. "With an old building comes a lot of challenges," says Clegg. "Duct tape and clamps can only go so far."
As a result, a task force was formed in January of 2004 after the YMCA had invested $1.3 million dollars into six feet of structural perafit to keep the building from leaning. Unfortunately, the cost wiped out almost all capital reserves. As one of 34 YMCAs in the metropolitan area, Clegg knew that time in the existing facility would be limited, but did not know exactly how long. After conferring with YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago Building and Properties Director Tom Kruger, Clegg learned there was a 10-year window, maximum, before the infrastructure — wiring and plumbing, included — started to collapse.
The task force devised 12 rehabilitation scenarios for the 90,000-square foot facility. Among them is renovation of both the membership center and housing section, installation of kitchens and bathrooms in each residential unit and the sale of the upper three floors to a developer for mixed housing. There has also been talk of constructing a neighboring facility — possibly a 100-unit SRO senior housing complex — on the YMCA parking lot, which was acquired from the City in the late 1990s.
Significant changes, however, would call for both political and community involvement. Clegg understands the property the Lake View Y sits upon is valuable not only to his organization, but also to those living in the surrounding area, and plans to make area residents a part of any construction or renovation process. Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) is also a YMCA advocate, providing much support over the years. Ald. Gene Schulter (47th) and Ald. Ted Matlak (32nd) have parts of their respective wards in the area as well, "so I pretty much have to please all three," says Clegg.
As the third-largest membership center among all YMCAs in the Chicago area, there is also a need to keep up with the Joneses — the brand-new Buehler facility in Palatine and Lake Zurich's Foglia YMCA, which ranks first with close to 8,000 units and 70,000 square feet. With 4,500 units and nearly 7,500 members, Lake View is not the largest, but in Clegg's words, is "sustainable and relevant — the challenge is telling the Y story."
To help him tell the story, Clegg has a staff about 115 employees to whom he gives much credit. "I equate it to the people working on the front lines," he explains. "The desk, the lifeguards — they could make more money flipping burgers, or go work at Starbucks for the stock options, but they stay here and they're here for a reason. It's about making a difference in people's lives, and that's what the YMCA is all about."
Clegg also has support from long-time members like Roscoe Village resident Lynn Boyle, whose family has been a part of the Lake View Y community for a little over a decade. "When we joined, the Y was very under-utilized in terms of fitness and as a community hub," Boyle explains. "I feel very gratified to see how it's grown tremendously, not just in terms of membership, but in terms of its significance to the community and what it contributes."
The Lake View YMCA is a neighborhood institution, and although there will be many obstacles to maintaining and improving the building's structure, Clegg says he has no plans to relocate. Competition is fierce among other health and fitness centers in the area — with the Y being one of 18 health clubs within just one mile — but the organization is more than just exercise, swimming and summer camp. Offering a myriad of programs and classes, in addition to child care, member appreciation events and a commitment to affordable, low-income housing, the YMCA turns away no one who wishes to participate. This is its gift to the community.
"Come and get to know us," says Clegg. "I would like for everyone to be a member, of course, but if not, just know how we're impacting people's lives and making Lake View a better place to live, work and play."
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