Tyrone area community members have visited the building of the Tyrone YMCA, located on Logan Avenue, for more than 90 years.
Whether it was to view a Tyrone Community Players production in the historic theater, to watch kids play basketball in the gymnasium or to pick up children from after-school programs, area residents utilized the building in many ways.
However, the Tyrone YMCA building site has been plagued with problems.
First, the Bureau of Labor and Industry deemed, after a safety inspection in March, that the pervasive deterioration of the YMCA building made it unsafe for public functions.
After the inspection, the Bureau of Labor and Industry was unable to grandfather the facility from current codes and regulations. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted by the YMCA Board to determine the cost of bringing the building up to code. It was estimated this cost would approach one million dollars.
At that time, it was determined necessary to close sections of the YMCA’s Logan Avenue building, including all the floors above the lobby level. This included the theater, and the Tyrone Community Players were forced to find another stage.
Then, the Tyrone area was forced to deal with major flooding, which occurred on September 17-18. It was during this time the Logan Avenue facility of the YMCA received extensive flood damage to the gymnasium level of the building, and the facility was closed to the public. It was uncertain if the building could be reopened again after renovations.
The following is a prepared statement the Tyrone Area YMCA Board of Directors issued to announce the closing of the building on Logan Avenue. The statement also provides information on the programs the YMCA currently offers at its new location at the old Penelec building along old Route 220.
“The Board of Directors of the Tyrone Area YMCA announced today (Monday, October 25) that the Logan Avenue facility, which has housed the Y since 1914 will not reopen as the result of damages sustained during the recent flood.
“Severe damage to the furnaces, basketball court and weight rooms was the latest blow to the venerable building which had been the subject of a Department of Labor and Industry review which prompted the Board to close the second and third floors. The facility was insured, but the cost of replacing the gym floor and the weight room and repairing the furnaces far exceeds the amount realized from the insurance carriers. The Y expects to receive about $25,000 in insurance while the estimates for the gym floor, clean up, equipment and furnaces range from $70,000 to $80,000.
“When the YMCA Board leased the old Penelec Building on Route 220, it was with the idea of increasing program availability by moving martial arts, gymnastics and pre-school to that location. That would have opened additional gymnasium time for basketball, volleyball and other programs that need that kind of space. A search for alternative sites for those activities has proved fruitless. As a result, not only are these activities not available for area families, but an important source of revenue is lost to the YMCA.
“Meanwhile, daycare and after school, gymnastics, karate and Silver Sneakers programs are currently in session at the program center on old Route 220 (Old Penelec Building). The dance program is housed at the Church of the Good Shepherd. In addition, baseball batting cage equipment is expected to arrive shortly. A hitting clinic conducted by Dave Brisbin is planned. All of these programs will continue as long as it is economically feasible to do so.
“Currently, the YMCA’s financial situation is perilous and casts doubt on the organization’s ability to survive. Declining revenues from contributions, membership and program fees together with continued high expenses point to a fourth-quarter projection of losses ranging from $7,000 to $13,000. For the calendar year, the Y expects to operate at a sizable deficit.”
