YMCA Pool opening delayed

WASHINGTON — The YMCA of Washington County won’t open a long-awaited aquatic facility this month as they’d originally hoped, but representatives say their fingers remain crossed about getting the pool up and running by year’s end.

Washington Y CEO Amy Schulte attributed the delays to a shortage of specialty trade workers like electricians and inspection schedules for state officials during the process. A representative from Carl A. Nelson & Company, which is constructing the facility, did not immediately reply to a request for comments.

The wait represents the latest in a long string of delays for a project that was first conceptualized in 2013, and has since hit roadblock after roadblock including lower-than-anticipated early donations, weather-related construction trouble for the first phase of construction in 2019, and a $2.5 million cost re-estimate the organization is still fundraising to offset, even as contractor work wraps up.

Anticipation remains high about the facility, however. Schulte said Y team members were excited to be so close to completion.

“We’re disappointing that we have to wait longer, we’re disappointed that we have to tell the community to wait longer,” she said. “In the grand scheme of things, construction projects, they experience delays. It’s something that really should be anticipated … but also, we’re talking the end of next month that we’re going to be in it. That’s the shortest wait we’ve had for quite a while, considering how long we’ve wanted to be in a new pool.”

The result is a delayed start to the swim season for Washington’s Water Sharks, the local Y’s competitive swim team. An email breaking the news to swimmer families went out last week.

“Construction of the new pool is still underway, but making great progress … We are currently expecting to start our season around the first week of November,” the email said. “Due to this delay, we do not have a start time for new swimmers … this is a change from prior years, but we want to get our returning swimmers in there as soon as possible to not delay the season any further.”

Also last week, the Y sold its former building in downtown Washington.

  Buy Photo

The facility on Main Street included an almost 100-year old indoor pool, until damage from a burst pipe over the winter forced the organization to close the longtime attraction. Other former athletic spaces in the building have since been rented out to tenants, like CITYPOINT Church, which has purchased the building.

The facility won’t be used as a place of worship by the church, which holds service at Washington High School every Sunday morning. But Executive Pastor Sam Schield said it would house staff offices, ministries, and events “Monday through Saturday.”

He added that CITYPOINT would likely invest in a new roof and HVAC system for the property at 121 East Main Street.

“Starting this week, most weeknights, the Hub will be filled with Life Groups and Collide Student Ministry — providing a space for individuals and families to connect in community and grow in faith,” Schield said in an email on Sunday. “CITYPOINT has had the opportunity to lease the space since January, so a number of minor updates have already been completed.”

Schulte declined to comment on the building’s sale price, but said it was less than the property’s likely market value due to the scope of needed repair work, insurance revenue from last winter’s damage, and the church’s rent payments over the last several months.

She said the facility wasn’t given away for free, but also said money from the sale would help pay for the new indoor pool, meaning it likely went for considerably less than the $272,000 fundraising gap last reported in July.

“I think they’re going to do a lot of great things with it and invest additional funds into it,” Schulte said. “Realistically, given the condition the old building was in, after the water damage last winter, we felt like given the circumstances, (the price) was reasonable.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com