The Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury are teaming up with Valley of the Suns YMCA to develop a $60 million YMCA in downtown Phoenix that will include three stories above the center for 60 units of affordable housing.
The Player 15 Group announced the plan on Monday, Oct. 19, in a news release.
The project will bring back a YMCA to downtown. The existing YMCA locked its doors permanently on Sept. 30. Before that, it had been a presence in the central city since the 1890s.
"Our impact as an organization extends far beyond basketball,” said Suns and Mercury team owner Mat Ishbia in the release. “It’s about making a difference in the lives of the people who make Phoenix such a special place. This is more than a building. It’s an investment in our community
and its future."
Ishbia added, "It’s a place where kids can discover their potential, families can build meaningful connections and everyone can come together, support one another, and grow. Because our impact won’t be measured only by what happens on the court, but by the lives we touch across the Phoenix community and the opportunities we create together.”
VanTrust Real Estate will develop the additional three stories above the center for affordable housing. The old facility, built in 1954 on Central Avenue between Fillmore and Van Buren streets, had included low- or no-cost studio apartments with communal bathrooms that provided housing for about 70 residents.
Scheduled to open in 2029, the new 55,000-square-foot facility will focus on educational programs, health and wellness, workforce development and nutritional needs, along with youth basketball.
The building will connect with the YMCA programs that provide tutoring and internships, on-site counselors and coaches, training and career development programs, nutrition classes and a full-service cafe.
There will be three basketball courts at the YMCA, with one being an NBA size and two being high school courts that will host camps, clinics and tournaments with an overall objective of giving kids a space to develop skills, build confidence and learn teamwork.
“This partnership marks an exciting new chapter for the YMCA and our commitment to downtown Phoenix,” said Bryan Madden, President and CEO of Valley of the Sun YMCA, in a news release. “Building on nearly 134 years of service, we are reimagining the downtown YMCA to create a place where youth and families can connect, grow and thrive for generations to come. We are grateful to the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury and VanTrust for their partnership and shared commitment to investing in the future of downtown Phoenix.”
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin by email at dmrankin@gannett.com or by phone at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns, Mercury team up for $60M YMCA, includes affordable housing
