MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — For the first time since 1932, the YMCA is coming back to Martinsburg.
Martinsburg City Manager Andy Blake said the organization has announced plans for a $34 million, 65,000 square feet project, to be constructed along North Tennessee Avenue not far from the WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center.
“What’s really driving it is a child care development center and indoor aquatic center. We’re excited for it to break ground next summer,” Blake said Friday on WEPM’s Pandhandle Live.
Construction is expected to take about 18 months.
Blake said the YMCA of Frederick County, Maryland plans to partner with the city as well as WVU Medicine.
“This is a real important partnership with WVU Medicine and YMCA. WVU Medicine is granting a long-term land lease across the street from where their current tower project is,” Blake explained. “As part of this deal, the City of Martinsburg annexed that property where the YMCA is going and some other property that WVU bought recently.”
Blake said there are conversations ongoing about the new indoor pool being used for area swim teams.
“One of the major partners behind this project not only is the Development Authority in the county, but it’s also the (Berkeley County) Board of Education and there’s discussions with the Board of Education with regards to access to swim teams, competitive swim teams,” Blake said, citing not only school-based swim teams but also teams like the Martinsburg Marlins that could potentially take advantage of the indoor aquatic facility.
If the cost for running and maintaining an indoor swim facility fell on the city, it would be a non-starter, according to Blake.
“The city of Martinsburg did a feasibility study probably three years ago on an indoor aquatic center. And the honest truth is that the city of Martinsburg alone could not have afforded to build it, but more importantly, operate it,” he said.
Blake said the project is a win not just for Martinsburg, but the Eastern Panhandle.
“I’d say it’s a win for the Panhandle that we will be able to have access to a quality indoor top-notch aquatic center without the ongoing operation and maintenance costs on the taxpayers’ back.”
Another feature of the facility is a child care center that would initially accommodate as many as 120 children, according to Blake.
In addition to construction jobs, the project could bring as many as 120 jobs once the facility is open.
Blake said the project is an example of what he city can do with the money it’s receiving from the $200 million WVU Medicine tower project.
“We’re reinvesting it back into one-time generational projects,” Blake said. “We’ve decided to reinvest some of that money back into the YMCA, reinvest some of that money back into the Boys and Girls Clubs expansion project downtown, reinvest that money into parks and recreation, and to purchase land for a new fire department on the west side. So this really helps with recreation, child care, public safety.”