ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 12, 1996 TAG: 9601120050
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
PENDING CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL, there will be a new Y facility operating by mid-February.
Nearly a month after the YWCA of the Roanoke Valley closed its Salem center, the facility will be reopened by the YMCA, pending approval by Salem City Council.
The activities building on Roanoke College's Elizabeth Campus and owned by Roanoke College will be leased by the city of Salem and subleased, at no charge, to the YMCA of the Roanoke Valley.
YMCA Executive Director Cal Johnson said he hopes to open the facility in mid-February.
The only thing the city is waiting for is City Council's approval of the $35,000-per-year lease agreement with the college, said Assistant City Manager Forest Jones. The agreement will be for five years.
City Council was supposed to vote on the issue at its regular meeting last Monday but the meeting was canceled because of the snow. Council plans to vote at its Jan. 22 meeting.
"This really gives us something we haven't had," Jones said.
The facility includes a heated indoor swimming pool that's accessible to the handicapped, two multi-purpose rooms and a gymnasium.
Johnson said he also hopes to use an area adjacent to the gym to house cardiovascular fitness machines such as treadmills.
The YMCA has been interested in opening a Salem branch for several years, he said.
"This facility becoming available made the collaboration between Salem and the Y a realistic effort," he said.
Johnson said the YMCA's goal is to enroll 300 members initially and grow to 600 members after six months. After a year, he hopes membership will climb to more than 1,000.
Mike Van Haelewyn, the YMCA's aquatics director, will be named branch director.
Van Haelewyn said Thursday that he hopes to start an aquatics program first.
"Once we're operating in February, we're going to go bit by bit until it's all up and functioning," Van Haelewyn said.
He also hopes to continue many of the programs formerly offered by the YWCA, particularly programs aimed at senior citizens.
Other programs will include aerobics classes, a drop-in center for youths and gymnastics.
City Council appointed a committee of citizens to study the feasibility of a municipal pool in Salem, something city officials and residents had wanted for years.
But once the YWCA announced that it would close its facility in August, Jones said he and Vice Mayor Sonny Tarpley began negotiating with Roanoke College and Johnson to bring the YMCA into Salem.
The city also has negotiated with Roanoke College to purchase the activities building and some surrounding land next to the Salem Civic Center.
City Manager Randy Smith said those negotiations could resume once the lease is approved by City Council.
As stated in the lease agreement, Salem will be responsible for any minor maintenance and will pay for utilities. The city already is providing water and sewer, Jones said.
Roanoke College will be responsible for major maintenance, such as roofing or plumbing. Salem has agreed to paint the gymnasium and pool area and do other minor renovations.
Jones said those renovations could begin once funds are approved by City Council.
The YMCA, which will receive all the income from memberships and programs, will be responsible for staffing and operating the facility, Jones said.
Johnson said two open houses will precede the opening.
He hopes to appoint a board of citizens to advise which programs the YMCA offers in the future.
"This will really be a Salem branch in every sense of the word," Johnson said.
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