A dream in the making
Thanks to the Hollister School District, the Hollister YMCA has moved a step closer to making its dream of building a brand new facility a reality.

YMCA...
building strong kids,
strong families, strong
communities.

District trustees voted unanimously in July to declare 7.5 acres of land near Ladd Lane School as surplus, paving the way for the YMCA to purchase the property. The vote allows the district to sell or lease the land to specific public or nonprofit organizations. The land was bought by trustees to be used for new school facilities, but with no official plans for use in place, the district was free to sell the land at market value.

The property is currently appraised at $1.05 million, but Lou Bettencourt, Executive Director of the local YMCA, says he feels San Benito County residents will rise to the challenge of raising the funds necessary to buy the land. Local fundraising efforts have continuously exceeded annual goals, Bettencourt says.

Although the YMCA has just three years to raise the money to buy the property, district officials have indicated they would consider an extension if necessary.

Current plans call for an 85,000 square foot facility for both youth and adults, to include a full‑scale gymnasium, a minimum of two swimming pools, basketball and racquetball courts, and fitness equipment. The estimated cost of such a facility is approximately $12.8 million.

While completion of the facility is still years away, necessary legalities have already gotten underway. In addition to extensive fundraising, Bettencourt will have to receive official approval from both the regional and national YMCA chapters before the purchase can be finalized.

In the meantime, the YMCA will continue to work with the HSD to offer activities and use facilities at Ladd Lane School, where the new facility will be built, as well as Sunnyslope, Gabilan Hills, and the city’s Recreation Department.

Programs are also ran out of the YMCA’s current location on Fifth Street, although the 3,500 square foot building is somewhat limited in its usefulness. Smaller programs such as karate and yoga courses and dance classes are held there, and most of the administrative work is done there as well.
Bettencourt calls the deal with HSD a “wonderful partnership,” and says it should ultimately benefit both parties.
“It can help both a school and the YMCA if they are located close to each other, because the school can use the facilities and students might become interested in the programs we offer.”
Bettencourt says early indications are that the community is receptive to plans for a new facility, and that he does not anticipate any problems with the fundraising efforts. He says both businesses and individuals have been “very supportive” of the YMCA, and that they will continue to be so.