Last we talked with the YMCA, we heard the demolition of the old Trinity Lutheran Church on Gaston should begin sometime in late August. Seeing as it’s now early September, we figured it was time for an update.
Alise Cortez with the White Rock YMCA says the latest dates associated with the demolition and construction of the new YMCA are as follows:
- Stained glass removal – by mid-September
- Demolition – early to mid-October
- Ground breaking – mid-November
In August, we gave a detailed peek into what the new YMCA will look like, but what about the old Trinity Lutheran building? What will happen to the stained glass windows that were created by the artist Octavio Medellin? They are currently being removed by the Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, Cortez says. The YMCA has donated the stained glass to the City of Dallas. The Office of Cultural Affairs is paying for the stained glass to be removed.
There are three smaller panels that the City will reinstall in the Dallas Performing Arts lobby. The City will also plan to reinstall the large piece that is visible from Gaston when additional funding is found. In the meantime, it will be stored by the City. The de-installation will include removal of the cross which is being donated by the YMCA to another local church for their use.
For an update on fundraising, Cortez says to date the YMCA has raised $8.2 million of their $13 million goal. In order for the Y build the full facility, including the pools and gym, they need to secure additional pledges (which are payable over a five year period) of $2.2 million by late October when they break ground.
After that, they will need to finish the remaining $2.6 million fundraising between October 2013 and October 2014, the time period of which corresponds to the final or Community portion of their campaign.
To learn more about how you can make a donation, and be recognized for it in the new building, contact Alise Cortez, Chairman of the Board of the YMCA at White Rock at alise.cortez@sbcglobal.net.
