Y breaks ground on new Warrensville Heights branch

Greater Cleveland YMCA CEO Glenn Haley and Board Chairman David Gunning. (photo by Kevin Reeves).

A cadre of public officials turned out May 2 to help break ground on a new Warrensville Heights Family YMCA, one of the first buildings to be constructed at Warrensville Heights Town Center on Northfield Road. The branch is expected to open in spring of 2012.

U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge, who previously served as mayor of Warrensville Heights, was on hand along with Cuyahoga County Executive Ed Fitzgerald.

The $8 million, 40,000 square foot branch is a joint partnership between the Y of Greater Cleveland and the city of Warrensville Heights. It will be one of several flagship buildings to be constructed at the city's Town Center complex. The 16 acre site will also be the home of a new 25,000 square foot Warrensville Heights Public Library, as well as future city developments.

Both the Y branch and the Cuyahoga County Library are being constructed using sustainable design concepts.

A majority of the funding for development of Town Center will come from Issue 13, a municipal income tax increase passed by 66% of voters in May of 2009. The city also plans to tap federal and state sources of revenue for the development. Additional costs for the YMCA will be offset by fundraising.

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U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge addresses the crowd while Warrensville Heights Mayor Clinton Hall looks on. (photo by Kevin Reeves).

Warensville Y