History of YMCA Western Branch

The YMCA Western Branch, as it stands today, was built in 1927. It replaced an earlier building that was housed in an office building on Scotten Street. As the population of the west side of Detroit continued to grow into the early 1920s to over 178,000, a newer, larger facility was needed. In the mid-1920s, the YMCA's Executive Board asked the community for donations to go towards a much larger building. Ultimately, a donation by Edsel and Eleanor Clay Ford of $750,000 provided the complete cost of a new building located on Clark Street, where the building stands today. Construction began in 1927 and was designed by Malcomson and Higginbotham, who are well known as the architects that built most of the schools in Detroit from the late 1800s to the mid 1920s. Interestingly, the Western Branch of the YMCA was also built by the same group. Unlike the modern day YMCA that focuses on a more recreational environment, the Western Branch stood as more of a building for the community. Four floors (floors 2-5) were designated for housing. Early on, these residential sections would have housed the young men of the Southwest Region of Detroit, teaching them how to swim and play basketball, among other sports. However, the YMCA was truly a community building, providing service to people of all ages, seniors could take classes on a variety of subjects. A later community room in the basement showed the YMCA was truly a place to meet new people and be a part of the community. For many years, the building stood as a staple of Southwest, however, as the area around the building began to grow into crime in the 1970s, the building took on a new role in the community. By the late 1980s, two programs that physically separated the building into two sections were formed. On one side was a daycare for young children, and on the other side was a halfway house for non violent offenders who had been released from prison. The sections, along with being physically separated, were protected by an armed guard, providing a safe haven for both sides. In 1999, the halfway program was moved out of the YMCA building and relocated elsewhere. For over a year, the building remained a daycare, however, the daycare program did not justify the price to keep it open. In 2000, the building was closed when the daycare program was shut down. Originally, it was in the plans for the YMCA to sell the Western Branch to the nonprofit organization Detroit Rescue Mission. This plan would turn the former YMCA building into a homeless shelter overlooking Clark Park. However, this was shot down quickly by community members and the public, who did not want a homeless shelter in their neighborhood. In 2001, it was decided to sell the building to Dennis Kefallinos, a now known slumlord, who promptly reneged on promises to convert it into residences and a community center. Less than a year after being abandoned, the former YMCA was open to trespass. After 25 years, the Southwest community has seen a significant comeback throughout the 2010s into the 2020s, however, the Western Branch remains unused. Thousands of people walk, drive, and bike past the former building every day. Many know how important it once was to the community, but almost all agree it needs to be repurposed into something new.