Plan to buy YMCA delayed

County leaders on Tuesday delayed a decision on the possible purchase of the downtown YMCA.

City Park Board members have requested that the county buy the YMCA using property taxes collected through the Conservation Futures program. In 2006, the Park Board agreed to pay $5.3 million for the land and building, using a right-of-first-refusal option to stop a developer from buying the site, which overlooks Spokane Falls and is surrounded by Riverfront Park.

City officials put $1 million down on the land but say they don’t have enough to finish the purchase.

County commissioners Bonnie Mager and Mark Richard said Tuesday that they had too many questions about the deal to make a decision. Commissioner Todd Mielke said he was OK with moving ahead.

“You have a very unique property with unique access to the river,” Mielke said. “It’s likely to be utilized by more people in the community and outside of the community than any other property in the Conservation Futures program.”

Conservation Futures money is collected countywide through a voter-approved property tax used to buy land to protect habitat or open space.

Mager said while she wasn’t ready to decide Tuesday, “Philosophically, I would really like to go there.”

Richard questioned if it is contradictory for the city to ask the county to buy a building to prevent a waterfront condominium project while at the same time pushing development rules that focus population and tax dollars into cities.

The cost of the downtown YMCA land, at four-fifths of an acre, was determined when developer Mark Pinch offered $5.3 million for the site in June 2006. In pursing the money, city park leaders committed to tear down the YMCA at an undetermined date and return the property to a more natural state. Until the building is removed, the city would use it as a recreation center.

County commissioners questioned if having an unspecific date for demolition could cause problems should a future park board decide to keep the YMCA. They also had concerns about purchasing the land through a 20-year bond.

County parks staff has suggested paying off the $4.3 million balance over 20 years so Conservation Futures could continue pursuing other properties. The program collects about $1.6 million a year.

Pinch said Tuesday that buying the YMCA could siphon money away from other Conservation Futures projects. He added that the public should vote on the proposal.

Park Board member Steve McNutt said it will be “problematic” for the city to continue running the YMCA because of the cost. He also said the parks department doesn’t have money on hand to tear down the building.

After Richard questioned if the city would be stuck with a building it could neither afford to operate nor demolish, McNutt added the park department’s financial situation is evidence of the city’s intent for the land.

“It substantiates our claim that it’s more important as open space,” McNutt said.