Dowd YMCA to undergo major $20 million renovation

The Story

The YMCA is renovating its flagship facility, adding more parking and more workout and exercise class space.

What’s Coming

– New parking deck will double number of spots, bringing total to 600. Some 3,000-4,000 people use the Dowd daily. (The Dowd lot almost made our Worst Parking Lot list.)

Nothing gives me greater anxiety than the Dowd parking lot. #ymca #needabiggerlot

— Maria (@MariaLynnAbbe) March 19, 2015

//><!--– The front of the building will be extended toward Morehead Street, adding 28,000 square feet of gym space on two levels. – The new space will include room for more equipment, studios for classes such as yoga that are currently held in gymnasium rooms, open space for “functional exercises” (think Crossfit-style workouts) and space for people to stretch.//--><!

Tuesday Abs Class at the Dowd is the best/worst 15 minutes of my life – http://t.co/7Tc9pnyRXc @YMCACharlotte @ymca pic.twitter.com/77lyNj9ruS — CharlotteFive (@Charlotte_Five) March 4, 2015

– More space for just women to be added.

We’re tearin it up this morning at the Dowd @ymca ! #sharktraining #beastmode pic.twitter.com/rNUpMfdnVw

— CharlotteRollerGirls (@CLT_RollerGirls) March 3, 2015

– Childcare to expand. – A glass-and-steel facade, with views of uptown’s skyline and the ability for people passing by to look inside. – An overhaul of the “behind-the-walls” equipment in the building systems, such as heating and air conditioning. – Renovated office space in the tower above the gym area. The YMCA will consolidate its corporate space in these offices. Etc. – Current gym space will remain open throughout.

Time for volleyball!!! #CharlotteLife #sportsCharlotte #volleyball A photo posted by Queen Charlotte (@charlotte.lenjk) on Mar 16, 2015 at 4:20pm PDT

– Y has raised $10 million so far, hopes to raise balance by end of year.

– Construction to begin at end of year; to last 18 months.

– A bit of history for you: The Dowd Y is 55 years old. It initially only served men. Not too long ago, it housed the homeless in its upper floors, which once had residential units.

Bonus Y

In addition to the Dowd overhaul, the YMCA of Greater Charlotte also said Monday it plans to build a new facility at the Ballantyne Corporate Park.

This story was originally published March 23, 2015 at 5:35 PM with the headline "Dowd YMCA to undergo major $20 million renovation."