Future of former YMCA property uncertain
Published 9:21 am Monday, January 4, 2016
A for sale sign remains on the 315 W. Main St. property in Niles.
Back in January of 2015, Jerry French, of French Paper Company, said he intended to purchase the old YMCA property from the City of Niles and build market rate housing there.
The city council shortly thereafter voted to approve a memorandum of understanding with French for the future development of the 315 W. Main St. property.
A year later, French still has not purchased the property, which city officials said would cost around $25,000.
French said last week he still intends to purchase the property and build market rate housing there. However, French said his decision hinges on what comes out of a property study of the parcel being done by the Michigan Municipal League through a PlacePlans grant.
French said early plans that came out of the study were either too cost prohibitive or not what he had envisioned for the property.
“The final draft will give me a better idea of what it will cost to build them,” French said. “I still want to do it. I think Niles wants market rate housing there. It is a great parcel of land and I’d like to see that happen.”
The final draft, French said, should be complete within the next couple months.
“We hope to see it soon,” he said.
Ric Huff, administrator for the City of Niles, confirmed that the city still has a memorandum of understanding with French for the development of the former YMCA property and that the city still owns the property.
Huff said it is his understanding that French is waiting for the results of the PlacePlans grant study before moving forward. Huff said while French could back out of the plan, he is hopeful that it will still happen.
Niles was awarded a PlacePlans grant in April from the Michigan Municipal League. The $100,000 grant is paying for a market analysis of the former YMCA property and two other city-owned properties: the former public safety building at the corner of Broadway and Third Streets and the “waterfront property” at 314 Front St.
Huff said the Michigan Municipal League would recommend the best use for each property including conceptual drawings and developmental costs.
