YWCA closes, seeks new location

The 65,000-square-foot structure will be mothballed.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The YWCA in Warren has closed its building at 375 N. Park Ave. to the public and put it up for sale, and a transition team is working on re-establishment of YWCA activities elsewhere.
"We're working toward having programs that are more mission-focused, rather than fitness," said Eileen Catanzaro, YWCA director. She was referring to the agency's mission of empowering women and eliminating racism.
The agency's board of trustees has appointed Shari Harrell, a city school board member and past YWCA Warren board president, as transition coordinator. Harrell has also been president of the Council of Ohio YWCAs, national YWCA board vice president and a delegate to the World Council of YWCAs.
Transition team
Harrell, who holds a master's degree in business administration from Kent State University, will serve on a three-member transition team that will also include Catanzaro and Bette Allen-Nisbett, YWCA Warren board president.
The transition team is developing new programming and exploring potential locations where it can be delivered, Catanzaro said.
The agency's board voted unanimously in November to close the 76-year-old, 65,000-square-foot Park Avenue structure because the agency could no longer afford escalating utility and building maintenance costs and because of declining membership.
When the closing was first announced, YWCA officials said they planned to relocate the administrative offices to rented downtown quarters and conduct future YWCA-sponsored programming in various schools, churches and community agencies.
YWCA classes in the Park Avenue building ceased Jan. 21, and the last swim team practice was Thursday, Catanzaro said.
No more swim team practices or meets are scheduled in the structure, which will be mothballed, Catanzaro said. The large pool was used by the Howland and Warren JFK swim teams.
Selling building
The building will be empty, except for the administrative offices, until it is sold, Catanzaro said, adding that there have already been several inquiries from potential buyers.
The asking price is $695,000 for the land and building without the equipment and furnishings; $795,000 if the fitness equipment and furnishings are included, said Griswold Hurlbert, owner of Routh-Hurlbert Real Estate, which has the listing.
YWCA-sponsored Trumbull Town Hall lectures continue at W.D. Packard Music Hall, and planning is under way for the June 3 Children's Olympics, Catanzaro said.
milliken@vindy.com