NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - The YMCA in North Adams is leaving their building.
The Berkshire Family YMCA says it was a difficult decision, but after several conversations will the building owners, they decided to move out of their Brickyard Court location on March 29.
The YMCA had to close the pool last year because the ceiling and roof became unsafe. They also had to suspend childcare temporarily due to staff shortages.
“The idea of the board to vote to transition out of the building happened because of a variety of different things, and the failing building was the main reason," said said Christian Bianchi, interim CEO and executive director of Berkshire Family YMCA. "It was defining us in the community that we really care about, and everyone was seeing us as a failing building, and the Berkshire family YMCA and the Y in general is much more than just a building.”
The Berkshire Family YMCA plans to continue programming with a "Y without walls" approach, meaning they will still bring programs around the city like a summer camp for kids this summer. They say people with memberships can use their Bennington, Vermont and newly renovated Pittsfield locations.
If the building becomes safe with renovations, they are willing to consider moving back in.