Downtown KCMO hasn’t had a full-fledged YMCA in 40 years, but that’s about to change. On October 11th, the facility will open featuring meeting rooms, pools, a gymnasium and more.
The Y’s return to downtown is the culmination of a $35 million renovation and reconstruction of the Lyric building. The project was funded by $16.9 million from the 11th Street Corridor Tax Increment Financing District, about $4 million from state tax credits and donations from foundations and individual donors.
“The TIF Commission is proud to be a part of this transformational project, which will continue our downtown revitalization, while also serving the needs of the community,” said Heather Brown, TIF Director.
The renovations, which began in 2018, combine contemporary design with the original building’s historic features. The lobby preserves marble flooring, wooden doors and elaborate ceiling finishes that date back to the 1920s. In some rooms, ornate ceilings hang above modern exercise equipment.