RSS FeedYWCA Building Up For Sale In Gallery Place (624 9th St NW)
Andy in PQ sends us another hot item for today: The YWCA building at 624 9th St NW is up for sale! This building is in one of the hottest locations downtown and is located directly across from one of the Gallery Place metro entrances.
The Washington Business Journal has a few words on the sale.
As mentioned last year, the YWCA was thinking about closing its indoor pool. But, two months later, they decided to keep it open. We guess that was just the start of the process that lead up to putting the building on the market.
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Comments
I’m not familiar with this YWCA’s operations–was this one basically a non-profit fitness center? I know in some locations the YWCA’s operate as women’s shelters, for example for abused women.
anon: yes, as far as we know, it is basically a non-profit fitness center. We forgot to link in the YWCA website.
They had all sorts of smart packages..one month memberships for example and the afternoon aerobics was soooo funny. A law firm would be smart to have it. Sorry to see it go but with 93,000 sqft next to metro center it will go quickly if not already; with existing olympic size pool. i liked the pool best on saturdays because it was empty.
I am a PQ resident and a former board member of the YWCA. The YWCA has provided incredible services to low-income women — job and vocational training, for example — but has not exactly been rolling in dough. Often it has been paid late for the services it performs. It has really struggled to operate the fitness center profitably. I don’t know the current thinking at the YWCA, but can assure you that it is not “cashing in.” It has a debt on the building, and cashflow is a challenge. The YWCA’s mission is to empower women and combat racism. These are not high-profit ambitions, and it would be good if those who immediately assume ill purpose do a little research before sounding off. For over 100 years, the YWCA of the National Capitol Area has served those most in need.
I believe the gym will remain in use but that the rest of the building (5+ floors) will have other uses. From a letter sent to members that I have thrown aleady thrown away.
Anon – I didn’t mean to denigrate the YWCA’s mission or operation, and I sincerely hope they have competent representation when selling such a valuable property. They deserve all the money they can get.
Milania – You are such a nuisance. You can find your fitness club at 7th & F, 7th & H, 9th & K, 11th & G, etc. Maybe I was refering to a grocery store?
The Y’s pool is not olympic size (50m), but short course yards (25y). Better than many pools in the area (15y, 20y, etc.), but not olympic size.
When prospective members are moving into the neighborhood, it doesn’t make sense to me that the the YWCA will sell its building and move to another part of the city. I really like going to the YWCA. The pool is great and there aren’t many people there.
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There’s something about a non-profit cashing in on high real estate prices that makes me a bit… sad. I’m sure someone here will remind me that this is capitalism at its best, but I believe one of non-profits’ main functions is to remind us there are more important things than money.
I presume the YWCA wasn’t paying taxes (as a non-profit), so I’m happy the city will be making tax revenue where it wasn’t before. And who knows, maybe the buyer will convert the huge ground floor space into something we all can use?