Because of this, JCC would like to move forward on upgrading its athletic fields, waiting on any building expansion that would be shared with both the college and the YMCA.

On Tuesday, both YMCA Interim Chief Executive Officer John Barber and JCC President Daniel DeMarte met with members of the Chautauqua County Planning Board to change their project into two phases.

Phase I will be for the JCC turf field and physical education renovation. Phase II will be for the YMCA and shared spaces.

Of the $44 million expected to fund the project, JCC is responsible for $24 million. Of that amount the state will pay 50%, the county will pay 25% and JCC must come up with the remaining 25%.

YMCA Interim Chief Executive Officer John Barber speaks at the Chautauqua County Planning Board meeting regarding the YMCA/JCC $44 million project. He said the YMCA needs more time to raise its portion of the project. Also pictured is Kathleen Dennison with Jamestown Community College.

Last November the Chautauqua County Legislature voted in principle to fund $6 million of the project. The project involved expanding JCC’s athletic complex, including creating two multi-use turfed fields to accommodate soccer, baseball, and softball, as well as expanding the college’s physical education building.

Original plans included: smart classroom space; conference rooms and office suites; two six-lane competition pools to accommodate JCC and YMCA swim teams, and community open swim; a sauna and steam room; two ADA competition gymnasiums to accommodate JCC athletics, YMCA leagues and community open gym; childcare facilities and services for infants to 5 year old children; after school and child watch center; a teen center; an intergenerational center; family and universal locker rooms, and public restrooms; shared health and wellness center and group exercise studios; shared outdoor area with designated recreation and comfort spaces including a playground adjacent to the daycare center.

After the county’s commitment, DeMarte said they took the project to the state, where the State University of New York gave its approval and made its way to the governor’s budget, even though all the other dollars weren’t in place. “Normally in a capital project they would not let it go forward unless all the money was secured,” he said.

Because all the matching funds aren’t in place, DeMarte said the governor’s budget doesn’t fully fund the entire project.

But there’s enough to start.

“What we’re suggesting is to get us moving we start Phase I with the turf fields followed by the renovations of the Phys Ed, while the Y completes its fundraising to bring the Y on board to Phase II which is the full project,” DeMarte said.

The county Planning Board agreed to change the project to two phases. Its backing is a first-step recommendation.

Next DeMarte said they will be going to the county legislature sometime this fall to get the legislature’s final approval.

Should the county legislature agree to the project being done in two phases, DeMarte said they would like to break ground on the athletic fields in the spring or summer.

Because the entire project is not moving forward, DeMarte said they will not need the entire $6 million from the county now.

YMCA CHALLENGES

Barber said they have been working with JCC in approaching local foundations for financial support, which have committed about $3 million. “We’ve got some promises, but those are contingent upon the full funding for the project,” he said.

Last year the YMCA said they were going after a federal grant.

“That doesn’t look like it’s going to materialize,” Barber said.

He noted that with changes at the federal level, getting federal funds is more challenging.

They’re working with a new organization called “Gro” for “Grow Development” which helps design and build YMCAs across the nation.

“There’s four or five new YMCAs in New York state alone,” Barber said.

The bulk of the $19 million to $21 million needed for the YMCA’s portion has not been raised. Still, Barber remains confident.

“I think we’re optimistic. This project is very compelling from a community standpoint, especially as a collaborative project,” he said.

But the idea of having its entire funds committed by December is unrealistic, Barber said, which is why he supports the project moving forward in two phases as well.

DeMarte was asked if the YMCA isn’t able to raise its funds necessary, would the project be OK, to which he responded “Yes.”

This isn’t the first time the YMCA has run into financial challenges for moving out of the downtown area.

The YMCA had acquired property on Harrison Street from the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency and was planning for a $30 million facility there, but only raised about $4 million. The state was hesitant on supplying funding without the city making financial commitments, which it never did.

The YMCA sold the property to the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities for $150,000 in November.

The BPU is planning on marketing the property to future industries.

The YMCA says its East Fourth Street building is more than 100 years old and is not sustainable.

On the third and fourth floor are federally funded apartments and the YMCA is committed to keep those apartments there, which are under contract for another 10 years. Barber said they may either rent out their old building or sell it, as long as the apartments continue to be utilized.