Danvers Community YMCA Bonded For $4 Million Renovation

DANVERS, MA — A $4 million renovation set to include a new childcare center, elevator to the cardio center, and locker room modernizations is planned for the Danvers Community YMCA through a MassDevelopment tax-exempt bond.

MassDevelopment said on Monday that the renovation also includes updating plumbing, sprinkler systems and HVAC infrastructure.

"The town is very excited for the YMCA as it undertakes this important project to modernize the building, improve accessibility, and expand program offerings — especially preschool programming," Danvers Town Manager Steve Bartha said. "The positive outcomes of this project will benefit stakeholders across our community and beyond."

Salem Five Bank purchased the bond, which helped Danvers Community YMCA achieve a lower interest rate.

"YMCAs provide people of all ages an array of opportunities that inspire healthy living and social responsibility," MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera said. "MassDevelopment is proud to deliver tax-exempt financing that will strengthen the Danvers Community YMCA and its ability to serve the community."

The Danvers Community YMCA serves residents of Danvers, Boxford, Middleton and Topsfield, as well as those in other surrounding communities. The YMCA's preschool and after-school programs serve between 300 and 500 children per day with swim lessons, summer camps and other youth programs.

"The upcoming renovation will allow our YMCA to better serve and support the Danvers and Tri-Town communities," Danvers Community YMCA President and CEO John Somes said. "These improvements will allow us to make our building more accessible to our senior members, provide additional wellness programs for all and grow our childcare to meet the demands for quality preschool, after-school, and summer camp programs."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)