Proposal for affordable housing project to be built on former YMCA property

A councillor has put forward a motion to update the vacant facility that's sat empty for over a year. CTV London's Reta Ismail explains.

The doors to the Bob Hayward YMCA closed in November 2023, and after more than a year, the site on Hamilton Road remains vacant.

Ward 1 Councillor Hadleigh McAlister wants to see that changed. He’s putting forward a motion to the Civic Administration Committee.

“What I’m asking staff to do is explore affordable housing options. Right now, we’re in the preliminary stages of a subdivision, going through planning in terms of getting another affordable housing project done, which is just to the adjacent property, which is the old Fairmont Public School.”

The Fairmont School, next to the property, is owned by the city and is currently fenced and secured, being prepped for demolition.

YMCA made the decision to close the Bob Hayward YMCA citing challenges with operational costs, including dwindling memberships and maintenance fees.

The YMCA says that as of today, they have no plans for the site; however, they maintain they’d like to see the location serve the community in new ways and are open to discussions with the City of London.

“We’re excited to hear about that proposal that the councillor is putting forward as well,” said YMCA’s VP of Asset and Facility Management, Andy Sullivan. “We’re absolutely excited to have continued or further conversations around this.”

McAlister hopes that his motion will allow city staff to explore options for the former YMCA property.

“Really, if we can acquire adjacent properties and consolidate and create a larger project that gets more affordable units online and, you know, gets people housed.”

The motion goes to committee Monday.