YMCA closes local branch

&emsp;&emsp;For a century, it has been a focal point of community life in the North Boroughs, particularly Bellevue and Avalon. It was a starting and stopping point for community celebrations due to its size and prominent location near the border of Avalon and Bellevue. It was the go-to place for community groups wanting to hold an event, and the place where generations of people of all ages found activities that ranged from youth sports to senior citizen card clubs.&emsp;&emsp;Today, the North Boroughs YMCA at 629 Lincoln Ave., Bellevue, is closed, and the property is for sale, another victim of a global pandemic that is forcing nonprofits as well as businesses to evaluate how to successfully offer services to their communities.&emsp;&emsp;The local YMCA is one of two branches that have been closed by the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh, the other located at the U.S. Steel Tower in downtown Pittsburgh.&emsp;&emsp;"As the global coronavirus pandemic has continued, its impact on the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh has deepened," said Kevin Bolding, president and CEO. "Unfortunately, this means we must make these changes so that we can continue to provide the Y experience and services that our members and the community expect today, and for the future."&emsp;&emsp;"This is heartbreaking," he added. "We never want to close any of our YMCAs. Yet we recognize the financial impacts of being closed for several months. Our successful recovery from bankruptcy in 2018 taught us that we must act quickly to preserve precious resources for the benefit of the larger community."&emsp;&emsp;For the past several years, the actual building in Bellevue has been used almost exclusively as a gym, offering exercise equipment and physical fitness opportunities in the community. It has been closed since pandemic-mitigation efforts began in March, and has been unable to open due to its size, which Bolding said prevents the implementation of effective social distancing. Members of the North Boroughs YMCA will be able to use the facilities at other branches, with current memberships honored through March 31, 2021. &emsp;&emsp;The rest of the YMCA's programming – such as before- and after-school programs and summer day camps – have been held in schools, churches and parks in the North Boroughs. Noting that the Y's community outreach is not defined by a particular building, COO Greg Swetoha, a resident of Ben Avon, said that those programs will continue.&emsp;&emsp;"We don't want to give the impression we're vacating the community," Swetoha said.&emsp;&emsp;One program that will not continue is the senior center operated out of the church near the corner of California and South Home avenues in Avalon. The program offered weekday lunches and activities for area seniors, but Swetoha said that participation has been dwindling and the Y has already terminated its contract with the church.&emsp;&emsp;The 2.2997 acre property where the YMCA now sits once was the home of the Bellevue Men's Club, which moved to Ross Township and created the Highland Country Club in 1917. The property was purchased by the YMCA in 1920. It is now up for sale with an asking price of $999,000, slightly higher than its 2020 Allegheny County assessed value of $959,800.