“A lot of our youth are Latinos in Somerville.
Among the general public, there is a demand for the YMCA, its services and its programs. If we can structure this in a way that we can continue to offer the housing or partner up with another organization to make it work, we definitely don’t want any displacement to happen, as a result of this shift.”Ĭouncilor Beatriz Gomez-Mouakad said that in speaking with Latino residents in Somerville, they have expressed a strong interest in having a community center as a place of gathering.
We can assure you that we have every intention, if this comes to fruition, that we don’t want any displacement with the residents that we currently have there. “Right now, we have every intent to make sure that those folks have a place to stay, once the transition happens. Benoit added that since the building was built, they have been offering housing. Some people have lived there for over 20 years, while there are others who only stay there for a month or so. Had it not been for the Y, I know for a fact, I most likely would have become a statistic.”Ĭurrently, the YMCA also offers low-income, affordable housing to men, with its 43 units on the third and fourth floors. But there’s still a population of these children who wouldn’t get to experience some of these adventures that we take them to, if it weren’t for some of these programs where money is not a barrier, because we find a way to get it done … I’m someone who is a product of subsidized housing, growing up in the Mystic Projects. “Kids get the opportunity to be kids, to go out and try different activities and games-things that it’s easy for us to forget when we see the transformation of Somerville, when it comes to median income. The space is a place where young people can play, interact, and gain the skills to become adults, Benoit continued, emphasizing that it is a welcoming place for families who may not be affluent. The YMCA strives to be inclusive and foster a sense of belonging, especially for youth. It’s just a deteriorating building when you walk in, you can see some of the areas where the wear and tear has taken place.” She was not able to say where new sites that the team is considering are. You could see some water damage in some areas. It was just in really rough shape, on the exterior. We had a contractor come by the other day who pulled out a brick with his bare hand. We’ve had a number of leaks that we’ve had to spend a large amount of money on, really in the past year alone. “There are some parts that just look run-down. The building is in need of renovations, but at this point, staying at the current location does not make sense. Vladimir Benoit, president and CEO of the Somerville YMCA, said that the building does not have the capacity to handle all of its programs, with some childcare and aquatics programs having to take place offsite. Representatives from the YMCA and City officials have spoken to the valuable role that the space plays for members of the community, especially for those coming from low-income households. The Economic Development Division of the City is assisting with the process.
Due to the age of the facility and its declining condition, the YMCA, working with Gro Development, acknowledges that it is time for them to find a new site. Established in 1867, the building that currently houses the community center was built in 1904. The Somerville YMCA is in an early stage of the process of searching for a new home.
0 kommentar(er)
