Put a Y at CentrePointe

The lengthy saga of the proposed CentrePointe development has resulted in an eyesore in the middle of town. Surely we can do better.

I offer this suggestion: Find a developer with vision and adequate funding who will work with the administration of the Central Kentucky YMCA to build a multi-use project that will feature a new, expanded facility in the heart of the city surrounded by condominiums, with retail on the street level.

Putting a new Y in the development would guarantee a steady stream of people to frequent any retail establishments included in the project and serve as an enticement for condominium buyers.

A new Y could offer expanded programs while providing readily accessible facilities for all users, something the much beloved but sadly outdated High Street Y cannot offer.

Such a proposal requires much discussion, planning and fund-raising by all parties involved, but it is possible. A case study is provided by Minneapolis, where an older downtown Y was replaced by a new one as part of a mixed-use development in 1989.

Lexington offers a well-educated, welcoming population; a healthy economy; numerous educational assets; a reverence for history; and an increasingly vibrant city center. Why not a new Y at CentrePointe?

This story was originally published February 26, 2016 at 2:06 PM with the headline "Put a Y at CentrePointe."