YMCA mulls joining forces with BRCC

It’s a unique idea — a college partnering with the local YMCA to construct a shared new building. And it may be coming to Henderson County.

Officials from Blue Ridge Community College and the Henderson County YMCA drove seven hours to tour such a joint venture on the College of the Albemarle campus in Elizabeth City last month, as well as a new YMCA-only building in Guilford County, as they consider the possibility of working together to build a new facility.

The YMCA is looking at either renovating the current building or possibly entering into a similar partnership, said BRCC board of trustees Vice Chair Kohlan Flynn.

He presented a slideshow during a BRCC facilities committee meeting last week to explain the concept. The two-story brick building in Elizabeth City has a shared center area, but the wing on the right is for the college’s Dr. Zack D. Owens Health Sciences Center, and the left wing is the YMCA. Albemarle Hospital also leases some space in the new building from the YMCA.

The YMCA uses 60 percent of the building, while the college uses 40 percent.

The YMCA offers everything a traditional building would — an indoor aquatics center, weight room, exercise studios, gym, child-care center and playground, locker rooms and more.

The health sciences center includes the associate degree in nursing, practical nursing, surgical technology and certified nursing assistant programs, as well as office space and new, state-of-the-art modern labs and classrooms.

“This is the one we were really interested in,” Flynn said. “It was a great cooperative effort. We thought it was well worth the visit.”

Flynn said he was simply giving an update of the tour, which he called an “exploratory trip to see what options are available.” The matter is in the YMCA board’s hands now, he added. That board meets again Tuesday.

“It’s an open-ended discussion at this point,” Flynn said. “There’s been no closure. We’re open to talking to them.”

The college and YMCA used the same architect and contractor for the project, and representatives from both institutions sat in on the planning, said Jim Turdici, College of the Albemarle vice president of business and finance.

The 56,663-square-foot building cost $6,350,000. The college paid $2,400,000, a YMCA fundraiser contributed $1,500,000, hospital rent provides $600,000 and the YMCA carries a debt service of $1,850,000.

The college has a total of 20,482 square feet, the YMCA has 31, 479 square feet, and there is 2,614 square feet of shared space. The hospital rents 2,088 square feet.

The college basically donated the land, agreeing to lease it to the YMCA for a minimal “dollar a year type” amount, Turdici said.

While the YMCA and the college each paid for their portions of the building, they shared the cost for the common areas based on what percentage of the building they would be using. The college, which was using 40 percent of the building, paid for 40 percent of the cost of the shared areas, and the YMCA paid for 60 percent.

Agreements were made to determine who would cover the remaining costs so that there were no shared bills. The college, for example, would provide maintenance of the grounds, but the YMCA was responsible for parking lot maintenance.

“It was a give-and-take (process),” Turdici said.

The building is metered separately so that the college and YMCA each pay for its own utilities, maintenance, security system and custodial services. YMCA users enter at the front of the building, and students usually use an entrance at the back.

There were no major disagreements and the entire process went smoothly, Turdici said.

“It was an interesting arrangement. It’s worked out well,” Turdici said. “It was a very, very agreeable relationship. Both of us wanted this to work.”

In order to start the project, however, land had to be rezoned, the Pasquotank County Board of Commissioners had to approve operations and maintenance and special legislation had to be passed allowing the college to lease the land to the YMCA. The State Community College System also had to allow the college to enter into the lease agreement.

Money for the college’s portion of the building and grounds came from bond referendum funds, and a generous grant from the Zack Owens family paid for the furnishings, equipment and information systems.

There are many benefits for the college family, Turdici said. Having the YMCA share the building means a wider variety of college courses are offered. Physical education classes have access to the gym and weight rooms, for example. Staff, retired faculty and students taking 12 or more credit hours are offered a discount membership, and their families receive the same deal.

About 75 students have taken advantage of the deal, along with about 85 staff members.

The community has also benefited from being able to use the brand new YMCA facility. Officials held a “Town Hall” meeting to explain the process to county residents, and answered any questions.

All of the planning made the building go up without any big problems, Turdici said. “This baby went so smooth.”