Downtown Dallas: 601 N Akard - YMCA

[Jay9398]

It's for sale. Please oh please oh please don't let First Baptist scoop it up.

https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2019/09/ymca-to-sell-its-downtown-building/

[LongonBigD]

It's for sale. Please oh please oh please don't let First Baptist scoop it up.

https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2019/09/ymca-to-sell-its-downtown-building/

Posted on the day of T Boone's death.

[MC_ScattCat]

I'd love for a super tall at this location. Right smack dab in the middle of downtown. It would look great at this location surrounded by all the other tall buildings. Maybe I've spent too much time in LA.

[cowboyeagle05]

More likely it would be Joule owner Tim Headington since he already owns most of the parking lots next door. He might even flip the building into a high-end gym/spa until he needs the land for more redevelopment.

[lakewoodhobo]

https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local ... 3e65342fa3

"We are committed to honoring and maintaining the T. Boone Pickens namesake and having a YMCA presence in the Downtown Dallas area," the statement said.

This can mean a number of things, but it's good to know this is more of a move than a closure. No clue where or when, though.

[Tnexster]

^Heard yesterday it could be anywhere from 2-5 years but definitely not far from where they are now.

[cowboyeagle05]

If they want some "cheap" land they need to move quick Downtown value is shifting quickly. Old DMN HQ will be more valuable if the high-speed rail station gets built. Uber moving to Deep Ellum means all those empty lots along Ceaser Chavez and Pearl could seem some action maybe even the Spire land is more valuable now between the Arts District and exploding Deep Ellum.

[Tnexster]

Don't know how long it has been up but happened to notice a proposed rezoning sign up in the window at the entrance today.

[dukemeredith]

I’ve noticed that sign, too, for at least three weeks. No clue whether that means plans are in process or if they are simply preparing for future redevelopment at a yet-to-be-determined time.

[cowboyeagle05]

I would imagine they are getting zoning in place for however they are marketing the site. Having zoning already done means the developer of a said future project doesn't have to waste time arguing with the city about what he is going to build but rather smaller details.

[Tnexster]

Took a picture of the sign which has one of those little scan boxes on it, immediately linked to the city website and it looks like this is nothing more than an application for the Charter School renewal which makes me think nothing is going to happen here for a while unless they deny the extension.

[Cbdallas]

Charter School.......snoooooze.

[cowboyeagle05]

False alarm everyone, go back to staring at the top of Amili Fountain place.

[Tnexster]

Downtown Dallas’ YMCA looking for new home
Longtime building on Ross Avenue is for sale again.

https://www.dallasnews.com/business/rea ... -new-home/

“After extensive research, thought and consideration, the YMCA Board of Directors approved a recommendation to market a potential sale of the Downtown Y property,” Curt Hazelbaker, President and Chief Executive Officer, YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, said in a statement. “Sales efforts were temporarily postponed due to the pandemic and JLL has relaunched the marketing process for the site.

“However, the sale of the building will be contingent upon finding the right solution for the Y, our members and community.”

[cowboyeagle05]

I wonder if Headington will look at it seriously or if the collapse of many of his efforts on Main Street will keep him from making a play for this site. After all, he already owns the multiple parking lots next door. It seems if he did buy it the YMCA would probably sell with a short-term lease along with a coordinated effort with Headingint for the construction of a replacement location.

[willyk]

/\ good idea. JV could work too.

[undefinedprocess]

Okay, just curious. I wanna hear everyone's *ultimate fantasy* development for this piece of land. Supertall? Park? You get the idea. In your perfect world, what would replace the downtown Y? And if you'd rather it remain, put on your thinking cap and play along. I'm curious to see what y'all would like to see.

[Tnexster]

Okay, just curious. I wanna hear everyone's *ultimate fantasy* development for this piece of land. Supertall? Park? You get the idea. In your perfect world, what would replace the downtown Y? And if you'd rather it remain, put on your thinking cap and play along. I'm curious to see what y'all would like to see.

I sort of like towers in the 40 to 50 story range and would love to see another big tower along Ross. Maybe ultimate fantasy is a new 50 floor Fairmont Hotel on this site and then repurpose the old hotel site into residential and maybe additional residential.

[undefinedprocess]

Okay, just curious. I wanna hear everyone's *ultimate fantasy* development for this piece of land. Supertall? Park? You get the idea. In your perfect world, what would replace the downtown Y? And if you'd rather it remain, put on your thinking cap and play along. I'm curious to see what y'all would like to see.

I sort of like towers in the 40 to 50 story range and would love to see another big tower along Ross. Maybe ultimate fantasy is a new 50 floor Fairmont Hotel on this site and then repurpose the old hotel site into residential and maybe additional residential.

Let me know if you find a working cut & paste tool. Trying to SimCity the ATX Fairmont and plop it in Dallas somewhere...

[Tnexster]

Okay, just curious. I wanna hear everyone's *ultimate fantasy* development for this piece of land. Supertall? Park? You get the idea. In your perfect world, what would replace the downtown Y? And if you'd rather it remain, put on your thinking cap and play along. I'm curious to see what y'all would like to see.

I sort of like towers in the 40 to 50 story range and would love to see another big tower along Ross. Maybe ultimate fantasy is a new 50 floor Fairmont Hotel on this site and then repurpose the old hotel site into residential and maybe additional residential.

Let me know if you find a working cut & paste tool. Trying to SimCity the ATX Fairmont and plop it in Dallas somewhere...

Nice, I liked the proposed Austin Fairmont tower over what was eventually built. Think that previous plan would look great on Ross.

[dfwcre8tive]

My vote goes to a modernized version of the Sanford Center. I believe the current building is the uncompleted base for this tower, right? The parking deck and ground floor were completed and occupied by a bank until the YMCA renovated/added space when they relocated here in 1980. The foundation should be in place for a 26-story apartment tower.

The Fairmont Hotel building across the street (originally planned as apartments) was just barely ahead of this one in terms of construction schedule (1962). This was the hot corner in town at the time.

sanfordcenter.jpg

[tamtagon]

Nice history!

[rono3849]

My vote goes to a modernized version of the Sanford Center. I believe the current building is the uncompleted base for this tower, right? The parking deck and ground floor were completed and occupied by a bank until the YMCA renovated/added space when they relocated here in 1980. The foundation should be in place for a 26-story apartment tower.

The Fairmont Hotel building across the street (originally planned as apartments) was just barely ahead of this one in terms of construction schedule (1962). This was the hot corner in town at the time.


sanfordcenter.jpg

Carey.Plaza.jpg

The Fairmont Hotel towers, which were originally known as Cary Plaza, sat unfinished for a number of years in the 1960's after the original developer ran out of money. It was just a skeleton of the building without a façade. It was a real eyesore on the skyline.

Here's a link to an article in the Dallas Morning News about the history of the buildings:

https://www.dallasnews.com/business/rea ... 50th-year/

[tamtagon]

For a couple years, back before the turn of the century, the Fairmont hotel bar was one of my gang's favorite meeting/starting point before a night out on the town. It got too popular after everybody else found out where we were getting started, so we moved the party. I'm just glad Bar of Soap seemed too scary for most of the followers. Even Mai's got overrun hahaha

[I45Tex]

"...Sanford is perhaps most widely known as the founder of the New Year's Day Cotton Bowl game in Dallas, which he first staged in 1936." Neat!

The tower looked to me like a flatiron Elm Place. The office building going up on the northeast corner at that time for Southwestern Life Insurance, now Hunt-owned, and the FBC Dallas parking garage are two other pieces of the puzzle that could make this intersection more interesting and attractive if renovated.

[zblevinz555]

I’m an idiot lol sorry for the mix up and putting those posts on so good I over looked this thread

[undefinedprocess]

Bumping this one to make Headington's senses tingle, wherever he be and whatever he be doing right now. Want this site to go vertical and get developed so very badly. Also bumping for a non-stupid reason: to see if anyone's heard/seen anything. I know myself and most of you haven't (since this thread has been dead for nearly a year and a half).

[Tnexster]

Downtown Dallas’ YMCA has a buyer. Members of its board aren’t happy about it
When the T. Boone Pickens YMCA was listed in 2021, a sale was contingent on finding a replacement. Now, with an offer in hand, the Y is no longer committed to keeping a presence downtown.

https://www.dallasnews.com/business/rea ... -about-it/

‘Not committed to being in downtown’

The all-cash offer for the downtown Y, made in the form of a letter of intent, likely totals around $12 million. Its prospective buyer intends to convert it into a mixed-use apartment project. That’s according to information in a May 26 internal email from Hazelbaker that critics of the sale sent to The News. The email doesn’t identify the potential buyer.

[eburress]

Frankly, mixed-use residential is a best case scenario, in my opinion. There could always be a ground-floor gym so the only thing lost is that ugly YMCA structure.

[Tnexster]

Mixed is best, maybe we have a chance at something taller. Downtown needs more residents and this part of downtown could use a lot more residential as it seems very office heavy. I don't know that we need another hotel right in that spot but who knows.

Wonder who the buyer is?

[MC_ScattCat]

My vote is a mixed use supertall. It's surrounded by other tall buildings making it blend in nice. That's just me though.

[Tnexster]

After being in Chicago last weekend and seeing the abundance of new supertall residential towers that have gone up in the past few years I wish we could get one of those. I believe the most recent opening is One Chicago which is over 70 floors.

[scott2]

But the article said they planned to "convert" the building not tear it down and build something new. It seemed very specific about that.

[zblevinz555]

Mixed is best, maybe we have a chance at something taller. Downtown needs more residents and this part of downtown could use a lot more residential as it seems very office heavy. I don't know that we need another hotel right in that spot but who knows.

Wonder who the buyer is?

Maybe Tim Headington?

[Tnexster]

Downtown YMCA to close after Nov. 25 following sale of property
YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas said it was under contract to sell the location Friday.

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2023/09 ... rkey-trot/

The T. Boone Pickens YMCA in downtown Dallas will officially close after Nov. 25, according to an internal email to employees from YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas president and CEO Curt Hazelbaker.

The closing comes after a controversial sale process. Y leadership announced Friday that it was officially under contract to sell the Ross Avenue and Akard Street location. They did not disclose the buyers nor the price, but the building has been estimated to be worth around $12 million.

[Cbdallas]

This will all depend who the secret entity is that purchased it. I as well hope for something tall and big here but I always do with any site near the city center.

[Tnexster]

This will all depend who the secret entity is that purchased it. I as well hope for something tall and big here but I always do with any site near the city center.

There is a nice little cafe in this building which I assume will close now. My fear it is gets demolished and then we have yet another block of empty space sitting next to the Headington blocks of empty surface lots. Even the surface lots are basically empty these days.

[Dallas_Uptown]

Downtown YMCA to close after Nov. 25 following sale of property
YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas said it was under contract to sell the location Friday.

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2023/09 ... rkey-trot/

The T. Boone Pickens YMCA in downtown Dallas will officially close after Nov. 25, according to an internal email to employees from YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas president and CEO Curt Hazelbaker.

The closing comes after a controversial sale process. Y leadership announced Friday that it was officially under contract to sell the Ross Avenue and Akard Street location. They did not disclose the buyers nor the price, but the building has been estimated to be worth around $12 million.

I don't have a dog in this fight, but the secrecy smells to High Heaven.

[Tnexster]

Why would it need to be a secret?

[itsjrd1964]

So would the Park Cities Y on Preston be the closest to downtown when this one closes?

[rono3849]

At one time, the Downtown Y had a huge membership. I guess the Downtown Y's district has lost potential members to out lying areas of the city's core. So many companies have downsized their offices and workers are staying home. There doesn't seem to be a demand for a lot of new office space.

[thelivingworld]

Article from 2021 said they had lost 43% of memberships due to the pandemic and having fewer office workers downtown. Tim Rogers thinks it could be Headington who bought it.
https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2 ... rking-lot/
Last valued at 12 million, needs 8 million in repairs. So this and the Wilson, the Kirby, Purse Building, Landmark Center, the Statler, old Spaghetti Warehouse building, the Mercantile and the apartment tower in front of it, Mercantile Continental all for sale or recently sold within the last several months.

[Dallas_Uptown]

Article from 2021 said they had lost 43% of memberships due to the pandemic and having fewer office workers downtown. Tim Rogers thinks it could be Headington who bought it.
https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2 ... rking-lot/
Last valued at 12 million, needs 8 million in repairs. So this and the Wilson, the Kirby, Purse Building, Landmark Center, the Statler, old Spaghetti Warehouse building, the Mercantile and the apartment tower in front of it, Mercantile Continental all for sale or recently sold within the last several months.

He's right...it will be a parking lot looking for a dream tenant who doesn't exist.

[zaphod]

It's a shame how downtown keeps losing community features. It's one less thing that will motivate people to live or go there.