YMCA closing South Park Street location, child care moving

The YMCA in Halifax will close its building on South Park Street at the end of May, putting 38 people out of work and forcing hundreds of others to find an alternative location to work out.

Stuart MacLean, chair of the YMCA's board of directors, cited aging infrastructure for the closure.

The child-care facility is moving to the St. Thomas Aquinas Church building at the corner of Oxford and Cornwall streets. The centre will be able to host 56 children.

Ian MacDonald has been working out at the YMCA on South Park Street for 25 years. He's one of an estimated 1,700 members who will have to go elsewhere once it closes.

"It's just that the roof is leaking and things like that. The building is 60 years old so you either have to out a lot of money into it or take it down," he said.

The organization said it is still planning to build a new home on the corner of South Park and Sackville streets, across from Citadel Hill.

Seven full-time and 31 part-time staff will lose their jobs in May. Some might be able to transfer.

The plan is to open a new YMCA in 2017 but the organization said it's still looking for a partner.