Hamden/North Haven YMCA To Close

HAMDEN, CT — The Central Connecticut Costal YMCA is closing the Hamden/North Haven branch on Sherman Avenue in Hamden, officials announced this week. The Valley YMCA in Ansonia is also closing.

The Central Connecticut Coast YMCA has announced plans to renovate and build new Y facilities within their 12-branch system serving residents in the 25 towns and cities from Fairfield to Madison. David Stevenson, CEO of the CCC YMCA, said that the Board of Directors has developed a plan over the past two years to update and improve many of its facilities.

Stevenson said plans are also being developed to replace the Hamden/North Haven Y and the Valley Y. New facility construction is “very expensive” and the development process can take several years, according to Stevenson.

The projects in Hamden/North Haven and Ansonia would require the purchase of new properties on which to build. Stevenson said that the Hamden/North Haven Y currently sits on 6 acres that are zoned for indoor-use only, and the Valley Y in Ansonia sits on 1 acre. The Y ideally would like to find 10-acre sites that provide the proper space for outdoor programming and parking, according to Stevenson.

Stevenson also reported that the coronavirus pandemic has created a significant financial challenge for the Y.

“Our revenues were slashed by 90 percent overnight,” Stevenson said in a news release. “We have cut way back on expenses including furloughs and salary reductions, but we have a serious problem.”

The Y’s Board of Directors has met regularly over the past few months to analyze current conditions and to consider staff recommendations to address the fiscal challenge. Following lengthy discussion, the board has decided not to reopen the Hamden/North Haven Y building at 1605 Sherman Ave. and the Valley Y building at 12 State St. in Ansonia, according to Stevenson. The Y will continue youth services in Hamden, North Haven and the Valley communities at satellite sites and local elementary schools.

“This was a very difficult decision, as these two buildings have served their communities very well for many years,” board chairman Blanca Kazmierczak said.

Both the Hamden/North Haven Y, opened in 1971, and the Valley Y, opened in 1924, have been operating at significant deficits with declining membership over the past five years, according to officials.

“We love these old Y buildings,” Stevenson said. “But they are out of date and were built to support different kinds of activities, and both buildings are in need of constant repair.”

Kazmierczak said that she is “really glad that we’re going to be able to continue our youth serving programs in Hamden, North Haven and the Valley communities while work begins to acquire land and build new Y facilities.”