Bringing jobs to downtown: Redevelopment of former Norwich YMCA continues

NORWICH — Making progress on what has been an eyesore for the better part of 15 years is “very encouraging,” Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom said.

On March 20, the city formally accepted $2 million from the state for brownfield remediation, which it was granted last April to help it and Mattern Construction redevelop the YMCA property at 337 Main St. The city also approved selling the YMCA property to Mattern for $1, and properties on White Street and the corner of Erin and White streets for $1, once final details are worked out, said President Eric Mattern.

Cleanup work should start on the YMCA site this spring, and construction should start in the fall. The plan is to make the site the new headquarters for Mattern Construction, currently in Sprague, while including other retail spaces. Businesses may move into the property by next fall, Mattern said.

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“Once work starts, we’ll be consistently there until the finish,” he said. “We want to get it done as fast as anybody wants to see us get it done.”

Bringing jobs back to downtown Norwich

With the property moving from ownership limbo, to city ownership, to private ownership, the property will be back on the tax roll, and it will bring jobs to downtown, Nystrom said.

While Mattern Construction was going to include a warehouse on Main Street, they reconsidered, and are planning on using the properties at 12-20 Erin and White streets, 12 White St., 14-16-18 White St., and 20 White St. for laydown and storage. An existing structure on those properties will be rehabbed, but the property will be kept largely the same, Mattern said.

“It leaves the space at the YMCA for commercial use and tenant space, which is more appropriate for Main Street brick and mortar,” he said.

Changing the face of Main Street

The YMCA is just one of many properties in downtown’s revitalization, including the Reid and Hughes building, and 77-91 Main St., said Norwich Community Development Corporation President Kevin Brown.

“That is literally changing the face of our Main Street, so the YMCA is a critical link to all that,” he said.

Focusing on the focal points, or the gateways, of downtown helps improve how people think of it, said Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Angela Adams.

“Let’s give it more of a positive perception, as they’re coming in or driving through the city, in hopes they’ll get a better perspective on what could be,” she said.

On the gateways, the flatiron building and the former Dunkin' Donuts came under the new ownership of Trebuig Properties LLC this year, according to the Norwich Assessor’s Office. The city is willing to help develop the properties, and is communicating with the new owner, Nystrom said.

“We don’t want that property to sit idle, “ he said. “We want them to develop it there as soon as possible.”

While turning the old YMCA into something new is good progress for economic development, the city still needs to fill the void that the YMCA once offered the public, including a pool. While the pool at the Bubbles to Butterfly Swim School is important for little children, there needs to be a public pool or aquacenter in the city, Nystrom said.

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“We’re almost 40,000 people," he said. "We need a place for people to learn to swim."

While what was known as the kiddie pool needs to be demolished for parking, it may be possible to refurbish the natatorium pool, and a few ideas are being considered, Mattern said.

“It saves us from having to fill it in and turn it into a big concrete slab,” he said.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Norwich YMCA downtown redevelopment: Mattern Construction's new home