Eastside Community Center Approved For Alpharetta YMCA

ALPHARETTA, GA — Some big changes will be coming to the Alpharetta Ed Isakson YMCA soon, thanks to a partnership with the City of Alpharetta.

The Alpharetta City Council approved Sept. 9 a Memorandum of Understanding between the city and the YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta for the Eastside Community Center/YMCA partnership. The council also approved the allocation of $2.5 million dollars from the 2016 Bond Funds for the construction of community space at the Ed Isakson YMCA.

The City of Alpharetta and the Ed Isakson YMCA have a long history of working together as partners to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Alpharetta, Alpharetta Director of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Services Morgan Rodgers said. Recently, the two entities renewed their lease and management agreement. This agreement outlines the joint programming areas and shared use of facility space.

In the May 2016 Bond Referendum, the City allocated $2.5 million dollars for an East Side Community Center/YMCA Partnership, Rodgers said. The YMCA developed plans to add community space to the existing facility. These plans include the addition of five community spaces that will be used for community programming by both the City of Alpharetta and the Ed Isakson YMCA, as outlined in the Lease and Management Agreement, he said.

The total cost of the construction project is $3.1 million, with the YMCA responsible for any additional cost, Rodgers said. The YMCA will place $600,000 in a separate trust for exclusive use for this project, the agreement said.

The current schedule calls for the construction to begin in September and the project to be finished in May 2020. If an early September start cannot be achieved, the Project shall be scheduled for an August/September 2020 start and a completion in May 2021, the agreement said

The staff of the YMCA and the City will meet to determine the programming needs and to plan and execute appropriate programming. The YMCA will complete the design of the project working with the City’s designated officials to determine the exact specifications and design requirements. The project will include the conversion of the existing teen center into a community activity, wellness, summer camp, program and meeting space.

The space will be constructed as an expansion of the existing YMCA facility that will add five community spaces that will be programmed by the City and YMCA and also made available for HOA meetings and other community meetings.

Renovations include a kid's daycare, multi-purpose room, group exercise room and renovated lobby.