By DANIEL SUDDEATH
Joe LaRocca doesn’t waste time looking back.
The arguments over a public partnership, debates over who would get access to the Floyd County branch of the YMCA of Southern Indiana — it’s all water under the bridge now for the exercise facility’s executive director.
And why shouldn’t it be?
The downtown New Albany Y touts a membership of approximately 10,000 people, equating to more than 25 percent of the city’s population. November will mark its one year anniversary, and LaRocca said the YMCA has availed despite a recession and double digit unemployment numbers locally.
“Membership has held pretty well despite the economy,” he said. “We have seen an increase in requests for some financial assistance for memberships, that’s up significantly.”
Also up significantly is the excitement about New Albany’s downtown, Mayor Doug England said. He credits the Y, the refurbished riverfront amphitheater and the Ohio River Greenway for the momentum.
“The big thing about [the YMCA], it’s showing the public how vibrant and alive New Albany is,” England said. The Y and development
The YMCA is a wellness center, first and foremost. If developments are spurred because of its location, that’s a bonus said LaRocca.
But the mission of the Y is to create a community of healthy and happy residents through exercise and fellowship.
But don’t tell that to the Realtors that drop the YMCA card when trying to lure investors and residents to the downtown.
“I think it’s kind of flattering,” LaRocca said of the attention.
“The most impressive thing is that people that have lived in New Albany for years and may not even use the facility, but have been by it or in it, to hear their comments about how much they appreciate what it’s done for downtown. It’s just nice to hear those kind of comments.”
Mike Kopp, a Realtor concentrated in the city’s downtown and the president of Develop New Albany, said the impact of the Y is undeniable.
“At a minimum, it has brought more folks to visit downtown that would not have otherwise,” Kopp said. “As they come down here and see some of the new things going on, it encourages them to come back.”
And LaRocca concurs. Through a community deal, Y members in Louisville can workout in New Albany, and several do.
“It’s attracting people from Louisville,” he said. “I think downtown New Albany has a lot to offer. I’m a big supporter of it, I enjoy working here.”
Different developments bring varying levels of enticement to different portions of the city, according to Deputy Mayor Carl Malysz.
Indiana University Southeast is a boost to the Grant Line Road corridor, and the Purdue Technology Center is aiding the Charlestown Road area, he said.
Equally, the Y is drawing people to downtown.
“By all indications, the YMCA has been a huge success,” Malysz said. “That’s one of the reasons why the mayor asked me to advance developing the plan for Scribner Place phase two.”
Public endorsement
The phase two blueprint, also known as the downtown masterplan, plots out projects and zoning changes that could spawn from anchor developments like the Y.
It calls for a $12 million parking garage to be constructed and supported by public funds, which would be a springboard for coaxing more development downtown.
But when there’s talk of using city money for private businesses, battle lines are drawn.
City Council President Dan Coffey said he doesn’t regret the qualms he raised when New Albany was weighing its involvement with the YMCA. The city and county are on the hook for up to $137,500 a year for approximately the next 15 years.
That pledge — paid for by Economic Development Income Tax funds — provided the aquatic center at the YMCA. Coffey said he was against using tax money then, and he’ll be opposed spending $12 million for a parking garage.
“I was never against the YMCA. But I didn’t then, and I still don’t believe that the local government should be the financial agent of these developments because we have too many other things that we need to be concerned with,” Coffey said.
Flooding issues and infrastructure needs should come before public investment in developments, Coffey said.
Too early to tell?
There are differing viewpoints on how to gauge the success of the Y.
Coffey said it will take a few years to tell how much of an impact it has had in drawing businesses to the city.
Mike Ladd, executive director of the New Albany Urban Enterprise Association, disagrees.
“I think it’s kind of easy to tell, it’s had a major impact downtown,” he said. “The lot is always full. No question about it, there’s people there so it’s being used, it’s been a major attraction.”
Kopp said that even if the YMCA hadn’t located downtown, Develop New Albany would still be pushing for growth. The opening of the Y has people excited and businesses looking at New Albany, he continued.
But it’s not a chicken or egg argument, Ladd believes. Businesses aren’t looking at downtown because of the Y, but because of the people that are coming to it.
“Ultimately it has shown activity and businesses go where there’s activity,” said Ladd, admitting that he was skeptical at first when estimating the impact the exercise facility could have on commerce.
“It’s one of the wisest decisions the city ever made.”
