YMCA National Capital Facility Building Sold; YMCA Will Close in December

The YMCA National Capital facility is being sold and will close its doors late December, the board of directors of the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington announced Thursday.

Membership at the 37-year-old YMCA, located at 1711 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, has declined by more than 7,000 members since its peak because of other competitors in the area, according to a YMCA press release.

“This was not an easy decision, but as a nonprofit organization with limited resources, the YMCA must continually evaluate community needs against available resources to strike the right balance in fulfilling our mission,” Keith Smith, chair of the board, said in a press release.

Although the YMCA had invested $1.5 million in improvements for the building, officials said it did not spur membership growth. Smith said as the community changes, the YMCA must evolve its approach to serving children and families.

“Our buildings may house us, but they do not define us. We have a tremendous opportunity to grow and broaden our reach, but in order to do so, we have to establish more appropriate and efficient models for service delivery,” Smith said.

The non-profit’s volunteer board and staff leadership are anticipating that many of National Capital’s employees and popular programs will transition to YMCA Anthony Bowen, located one mile away. Nearly 25 percent of YMCA National Capital members have already begun using YMCA Anthony Bowen.

The Y plans to use the proceeds from the sale of the facility to create more volunteer and employment opportunities and contribute to other YMCAs in the region.

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