Local county leaders say they tried to buy Morrison YMCA but were denied

CHARLOTTE — Mecklenburg County leaders said they tried to buy the Morrison YMCA but were denied.

Some neighbors are upset Moments of Hope Church is buying it.

A county commissioner told Channel 9 this is an expensive hub to replace.

Mecklenburg County has had a long standing relationship with the Morrison YMCA. The place has essentially been a hub for all major recreation for people in Ballantyne.

A county leader says the sale of the Y puts the county in a difficult, and costly position.

“I can’t think of a better word than disappointing,” said Susan Rodriguez-McDowell, a District 6 Mecklenburg County commissioner.

Rodriguez-McDowell said she’s had a number of conversations with the YMCA over its decision to sell its Morrison branch in Ballantyne to a church. She said before the sale was made public, the county made an offer to buy it, but it was not entertained.

“To me that just is really tragic because it’s a loss, and I believe it’s a loss that will cost the county, and as a result, the taxpayers,” said Rodriguez-McDowell.

The county owns land surrounding the Morrison Y, including a building that the YMCA built, but after the sale, will revert back to the county.

Rodriguez-McDowell said the community will lose aquatics, childcare and other services. Outdoor activities will continue, but not under the Y umbrella.

“Soccer, baseball, all of that. Flag football, whatever the folks of the Y were doing. That all just reverts back to the county,” Rodriguez-McDowell said.

The county does have recreation centers in Ballantyne: Elon Recreation Center and Knights View Recreation Center, but neither offer all the amenities of Morrison.

“If we were to try to recreate that in a regional recreation center, you’re talking at least $100 million. You know, if you have to buy the land and you build the facility, it’s $100 million easy,” Rodriguez-McDowell said. “I really don’t know how this is going to unfold. It could take a decade or two before something could materialize. And that, in my view, is just, you know, that’s really hard to swallow.”

Rodriguez-McDowell said the sale seems like a pretty done deal.

She said she’ll continue to advocate for the community, and applauds people who have protested and shared their concerns about the Y’s departure.

The Y says the money will pay for upgrades at the other Y locations.

The Morrison Y will not close until next summer.

The YMCA of Greater Charlotte sent Channel 9 the following statement Sunday:

“The YMCA Board of Directors had already voted to approve the sale of the Morrison YMCA to Moments of Hope Church following months of consideration and negotiations when Mecklenburg County later expressed potential interest in purchasing the property. The Y was moving forward with the Board-approved transaction at that time and was not in a position to accept an offer, and the YMCA did not receive an offer or proposed terms from the County.”

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