A year after the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee emerged from bankruptcy holding a fraction of its assets, attendance has spiked at three suburban branches it sold in 2014.
The YMCA of Central Waukesha County bought Milwaukee YMCA branches in Greenfield, Menomonee Falls and Wauwatosa for a total of $7 million in October 2014. In all, the YMCA shed eight of its 12 properties as part of a complex bankruptcy deal that eventually erased $30 million of debt accrued over two decades.
After acquiring those three branches, the Waukesha YMCA system renamed itself the YMCA of Greater Waukesha County and invested more than $3 million in upgrades and renovations.
“They were really quite extensive,” said Chris Becker, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Waukesha County. “The renovations were a combination of mechanical needs as well as programmatic upgrades. Things like gymnasium remodels, over $1 million of new fitness equipment, cosmetic updates, new lighting and carpeting, mechanical repairs, (and) heating and air conditioning repairs.”
Attendance statistics obtained from the YMCA indicate the renovations are working.
During the month of January 2015, the Greenfield branch had 13,610 visitors. Between Jan. 1 to Jan. 25 this year, the Greenfield YMCA had 22,267 visitors, an increase of 64 percent.
Similarly, attendance at the Menomonee Falls branch spiked from 14,619 in January 2015 to 19,571 through Jan. 25, a 34 percent increase. At the Wauwatosa branch, attendance increased from 16,322 in January 2015 to 22,421 through the 25 of this year, a 37 percent increase.
Sebald said the Waukesha YMCA system started tracking attendance data at its newly acquired branches in January 2015, just a couple months after taking over operations.
“We’re really seeing a lot more people taking advantage of their memberships and coming in and starting new memberships,” Sebald said. “They’re re-energized in a lot of ways. The improvements that we’ve made are definitely worth it.”
The Waukesha YMCA system has spent more than $1.1 million upgrading fitness equipment at its newly acquired locations and more than $1.9 million renovating building interiors. Becker and Sebald said upgrades were badly needed at the three facilities.
“It’s been well publicized that the YMCA was fiscally challenged for years,” Becker said. “I don’t think they had the capital to invest the resources. Our plan is to reinvest capital funds into the facilities.”
Aside from the Greenfield, Menomonee Falls and Wauwatosa branches, the Milwaukee Y shed several other properties as part of the bankruptcy deal.
Its Young Leaders Academy charter school was acquired by Milwaukee College Prep. The Saukville branch was purchased by the Kettle Moraine YMCA. The Y’s Cudahy branch was closed and put up for sale, but has been unable to attract a buyer. It is currently listed for $2.75 million.
The Y sold it’s headquarters on the fourth floor of the John Plankinton Building to developer Kendall Breunig, principal of Franklin-based Sunset Investors, in February, 2015.
Two other properties — the Northside YMCA in Lindsay Heights and the Parklawn YMCA on 46th Street — were placed in a trust controlled by BMO Harris Bank, but the YMCA still operates the locations through lease agreements.
YMCA Camp Matawa in Campbellsport is closed and has a message on its website that reads: “While the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee continues its efforts to seek a new operator for Camp Matawa, those efforts are still ongoing.”
