One year after the first mention of a new YMCA for downtown Pensacola, businessman Quint Studer in January announced a new offer to the organization.
Studer – who closed on a $3.4 million deal for the Pensacola News Journal property in late 2013, offered part of the six acres for the YMCA to replace its 62-year-old facility. Once Studer and his partners knew they would be purchasing the PNJ site, they made the offer to the YMCA Board as a donation that would hold the Y.
A year earlier, Studer and his wife Rishy pledged five million dollars toward construction of a new Y at Community Maritime Park. The idea was abandoned a couple of months later. The YMCA’s Board cited how property at the park is leased, and extreme confusion within city government. Board Chairman Steve Williams said the site at Romana and Jefferson Streets would be much more attractive.
While not the high-profile type, work had been ongoing in developing a plan to build a new YMCA somewhere downtown. Williams said it was frustrating at times, but the experience enabled them to regroup.
Meanwhile, Quint Studer Daily Convo LLC moved ahead with the original plan for the land – razing the 55-year-old PNJ building in favor of mixed-use facilities -- including rental housing -- to go with a number of parking lots nearby.
Gannett – which owns the Pensacola News Journal – signed a lease to remain in the building for another six months while a new location is sought.
In March, the YMCA Board closed the deal with the Studers. The board also hired a local architectural firm -- Bay Design Associates -- for the project. Yet to be determined was how to finance the YMCA project through fund-raisers and the $5 million pledged by the Studers in 2013 – which remains on the table.
Meanwhile, the PNJ’s new offices on Palafox Street opened in August. The state-of-the-art facility is in a century-old building that was housed the Isis Theatre.