Poughkeepsie Passes Resolution On Former YMCA Property

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Poughkeepsie has taken another step toward transferring the former YMCA property to Dutchess County.

The City of Poughkeepsie Common Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday to have Dutchess County take ownership of the former YMCA property in the city and invest $25 million to build a new, state-of-the-art Youth Opportunity Center at the site.

Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison said in a prepared statement he was grateful the Common Council made the decision on behalf of the city and its young people.

“When the city administration moved to have the city assume ownership of the property, we knew we had to act to spur this kind of project, and we are committed to seeing it come to fruition," he said. "Partnering with the county as well as other members of the 35 Montgomery Community Coalition provides us with that clear way forward.”

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said the county was committed to completing the transaction and making a critical investment for the betterment of the youth.

“The county has created the ‘Path to Promise’ blueprint that charts strategic ways to ensure all young people in Dutchess County — from birth through employment — have the assets they need to achieve their full potential," he said. "Once this Youth Empowerment Center is constructed, the Path to Promise will have a fitting home to continue this work on a countywide basis.”

The city took ownership of the property in early 2019 after the former YMCA building was shuttered and was left dormant. The city issued a request for expressions of interest to the public and interested parties, seeking proposals to develop a youth and community center and held several public meetings to obtain more public feedback. City administration officials said they understood from the beginning that the city did not have the financial capacity to complete this project on its own and was looking for partners.

According to a city spokesman, the 35 Montgomery Community Coalition — which includes Dutchess County, youth-oriented organizations as well as education and health care leaders — emerged as the successful respondent to the request for interest process after presenting its plans to the public at another public meeting in October 2019. The coalition has been working together to determine the most appropriate organizational structure to advance the project.

The coalition, which also includes the YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County and DAY ONE Early Learning Community, seeks to create a multi-use facility that would provide services connected to their respective missions in the community.

Councilman Evan Menist of the Second Ward, where the property is located, said the city needs a community center where children, families and seniors can learn, grow and thrive as a community.

“With a commitment of $25 million from Dutchess County, transferring the abandoned former-YMCA property to begin the design and development process for the site is just the beginning of a long public-input process that will inform the future of the site and ensure that the new center will fulfill the diverse needs of our city and county,” he said.

Officials said the city, county and the 35 Montgomery Coalition will work to secure funding sources in addition to the county’s $25 million commitment. A stakeholders’ advisory board, which will include the 35 Montgomery Coalition and the city, will be created to have input on the design of the youth activity center and its future operations.

The transfer of the property and bonding issues now go to the Dutchess County Legislature for approval, which would lead to the demolition of the existing decaying structure, the creation of a community space and the design and construction of the new youth center.

Find out more about the project here.

Like Hudson Valley Patches' Facebook Pages.