02-04-2025
Downtown Express YMCA to close, YMCA looking for new location
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The Heart of the Valley YMCA is looking for a new location for the Downtown Express YMCA. It announced last week, that the lease on the space inside the building owned by Huntsville Utilities is expiring on August 31st.
News 19 reached out to the Heart of the Valley YMCA for more details on the closure and search for a new space.
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'They need the space back that we've been using for the past 15-20 years,' said Interim CEO Jeff Collen.
Collen said keeping the location downtown is a priority.
'We think it's really, really important that the YMCA remain downtown,' he said.
Collen told News 19 that the Y is working with downtown partners to find a new location that is just as convenient.
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'We'll find another location that will serve the downtown community as well, if not better, than we've ever been able to,' Collen said.
In August of 2024, the Heart of the Valley YMCA filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. It cited financial issues due to 'mortgage debt' from the Hogan YMCA in Madison. As a result, the YMCA sold Camp Cha-La-Kee in Guntersville.
However, Collen told News 19 that the decision to move the Downtown YMCA is purely due to the expiration of the building lease and that it has nothing to do with financial issues.
'It has absolutely nothing to do with it,' Collen told News 19.
During the month of March, Collen told News 19 that there were more than 4,300 visits to the Downtown Y. He said once the Y finds a new location to relocate to, it could be 'very, very positive' for membership.
At this time, he said they are still looking for the perfect location. News 19 will keep you updated on when a new location is selected.
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