As plans advance for the YMCA of Honolulu to rebuild its Central Y branch on the edge of Waikiki, the nonprofit is looking ahead to possibly renovating other facilities on Oahu and expanding with a new branch in Waianae.
The organization has sketched out a master plan for an estimated $20 million renovation to its most-used facility in Nuuanu, though proceeding with the work will be subject to review by a recently formed "assets prioritization" task force.
Work envisioned for the Nuuanu Y includes upgrades to its gym, pool, lobby, racquetball courts and adding 90 parking stalls to the 200 stalls existing at the 90,500-square-foot facility used by about 5,000 members.
If the work proceeds, it could be done over 10 years, Y officials said.
The Nuuanu Y is the fourth-oldest of the local YMCA facilities. It opened in 1963.
Other Y facilities being considered for upgrades include the oldest, Camp H.R. Erdman on the North Shore established in 1926, and the Atherton branch in Manoa established in 1932.
The Y also is considering making improvements to its Waialae branch near Kahala Mall as well as building a new branch in Waianae.
No master plans or timetables have been drawn up for these four other potential projects, which also would be considered by the task force.
"It’s very preliminary," said Lisa Ontai, the Y’s marketing director.
The Y is one of the largest nonprofits in Hawaii, annually serving more than 100,000 people with a variety of programs at eight branches plus Camp Erdman.
Last year, the Y announced a deal to sell most of the land under its branch on Atkinson Drive across from Ala Moana Center to a San Francisco developer that plans to build a 128-unit residential condominium on the site. The Y would use sale proceeds to build a new yet smaller facility on about a third of an acre it is retaining from the 2-acre site.
The Central Y’s 56,564-square-foot building was built in 1951. Plans call for it to be replaced with a 30,000-square-foot building containing most, but not all, present services.
The San Francisco-based developer for the Central Y project, MB Property Acquisitions LLC, received an OK for the project from the Honolulu Planning Commission in June. The City Council is considering a zoning change that would allow the condo tower to exceed the area’s 150-foot height limit and rise 350 feet.
