After more than three decades, construction and closure is set to begin Monday, June 1 on a much-needed renovation.restoration of the YMCA Firehouse, 7877 Herschel Ave., to better suit the needs of La Jolla Village. The facility is expected to reopen later this year. New amenities will include a center providing childcare while parents and guardians enjoy the Y; two multipurpose studios for group exercise classes; shower facilities; a family wellness center with state-of-the-art cardio and strength equipment; and restoration of the historic façade “For more than 100 years, this building has supported community wellness in one capacity or another,” said Sue Ball, regional vice president of YMCA of San Diego County. “This renovation will enable us to continue that mission by offering more life-saving programs for the children, adults and seniors of today and generations to come.” A gift has enabled the YMCA to begin construction; however, additional funding is needed to complete the project, with costs estimated at $1.5 million. Special recognition opportunities are available for gifts of $500 or more, and facility-naming opportunities are available for gifts of $25,000 and above. Design of the current improvements and restoration of the structure are under the direction of local architect Trip Bennett, who specializes in adaptive renovation/restoration of historic structures. Bennett previously led the community effort to renovate the relocated Fire Station 13, completed in 2010. A landmark of La Jolla’s historic district, Fire Station Company 13 was built in 1937, replacing a wooden firehouse built in 1913. The building was once a City Hall, a city jail and a fire station. In 1976, Fire Station 13 relocated, and the building remained unused for more than a decade. In the mid-1980s, the La Jolla YMCA launched a capital campaign to renovate the building, turning it into a satellite branch. Since then, the YMCA Firehouse has grown to serve more than 4,300 people each year with a variety of wellness and youth development programs. The City of San Diego’s historical resources board has designated the firehouse a historical landmark. It’s one of the few surviving structures of the original civic center, along with the post office and library. The YMCA of San Diego County is the second largest Y in the nation, serving hundreds of thousands of San Diego County residents and employing more than 4,500 people. For more information on the project, or to make a donation, visit lajolla.ymca/firehouse or call (858 453-3483.
