WARREN YMCA will reopen after electrical-fire repairs

Some $100,000 has been spent for improvements the past few years.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Rumors of the Warren YMCA's death have been greatly exaggerated.
The 75-year old downtown landmark is expected to reopen in November, about four weeks after an electrical fire caused the lights to go out.
On Monday, a crew from Ohio Edison worked to repair underground cables that feed power to the facility, and staff members moved around the 100,000-square-foot building by flashlight.
"It is an old building, but it has a lot of life left in her," said Steve Alexander, chief executive officer. "We have put too much money in her to close her down."
The nonprofit organization is waiting for delivery of a new circuit breaker box to replace an 8-foot-by-6-foot box destroyed in the fire, which was contained to a basement service area.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze with the YMCA's fire extinguishers after people in the building heard a loud "pop" and power went out about 8:20 p.m. Oct. 6. People exited by battery-powered emergency lights.
There was no smoke damage, Alexander said.
Members have been asked to use the Eastwood Family YMCA, in Niles, until electricity is restored and the building reopens. About 150 people a day use the Warren YMCA during winter months.
Insurance will cover equipment replacement and necessary electrical upgrades, estimated to cost $40,000, Alexander said.
The building has undergone about $100,000 worth of renovations in the past two and a half years, including cleaning of the exterior and a new roof. A new filtration system is being installed in the smaller of the two pools, he said.
The organization is committed to keeping the Warren building open, in part because children can walk to its downtown location.
The smaller Eastwood branch is on Youngstown-Warren Road.