Indiana Landmarks Seeking Help for Terre Haute YMCA
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA Wisconsin development firm wants to invest millions to rehabilitate the 80-year old Terre Haute YMCA. However, Indiana Landmarks feels the recent listing of the building on the National Register of Historic Places will not enough to save the building.
The organization says the city of Terre Haute needs to step in to help ensure the building is saved.
Commonwealth Companies has plans to invest nearly $10 million to transform the building into affordable housing, but the city denied the company’s request for a 10-year tax abatement. The company plans to again submit plans to the city, but will now ask for an 8-year abatement. The building has sat vacant for over a decade and has been privately owned since the YMCA moved to Fairbanks Park in 2006. Despite having broken windows and signs of vandalism, Indiana Landmarks says many architectural features, such as arched doors with carving, ornamental tile work and ironwork, make the building unique and worth saving.
Indiana Landmarks is encouraging local residents to contact their city council representatives to show support for the project. The council’s next regularly scheduled meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, August 8 in the City Hall courtroom.