Linsey Davis/Eyewitness News
Indianapolis, Sept. 30 - The Historic Fall Creek YMCA made more history Tuesday night, closing its doors for what is likely the final time. At 10 o'clock, staff turned the keys in the lock.
The Greater Indianapolis YMCA says the center loses a half-million dollars a year and has a third of the members it needs to survive.
But a group pushing to keep it open says it wants to make the Y independent.
"Give us a five-year opportunity as they did in Martinsville to raise the money and increase the membership." said Jocelyn Tandy-Adande, the Fall Creek Y's Coordinator.
Norris Lineweaver of the Greater Indianapolis YMCA disagrees that the organization can survive independently. "We just don't see it as a candidate. We just don't see people that have the resources to do any better than the attempts that we have made over the past 20 years.
Lineweaver says there are no immediate plans to sell the building and land.
If it is sold, half the proceeds will go to fund city youth programs and half will pay for a new YMCA in Pike Township.
William Durham Jr. has been a member since 1994. "As I came in this morning the gentleman at the front desk said, 'Well, this is it.' And so it's kind of sad and very disappointing."
Disappointing too is the smattering of cars in the parking lot, indicative of the decline in membership and ultimately, according to Y officials, a $5.1-million loss over the last 12 years.
"When you have an asset that's become a liability and is absorbing half a million dollars a year, then its good stewardship for a board to make this decision," according to Lineweaver.
From its inception and throughout the civil rights era, the 45-year-old-facility was at the center of the Indianapolis black community.
Lineweaver says, "That presents the immediate problem for the Fall Creek Y because that social capital migrated to outlying areas and now they belong to Y's more convenient to them. "
Early Tuesday morning, members took their final steps on the treadmill in what is likely their last workout in the building.
Ron Pinkney says, "Hate the fact it's going to close. This was just a spot to, it became familiar to me."
The clink of the weights is now silent, not only signalling the end to decades of workouts, but making a piercing noise that resonates throughout the community.
Dunham says, "For the sake of the children, it should remain open."
But according to board members, the Y is not a building, it's people with a commitment to kids and the community, people with doors that will stay open in the future.
Protesters plan to file a lawsuit asking for an injunction to withhold the sale of the building until an independent review of the books and records is conducted.
