The Northeast YMCA is planning a $15.3 million development in Roebuck with a clinic and 23 Habitat homes.

The Northeast YMCA is planning a $15.3 million renovation of its 8-acre Roebuck campus that will include 22 Habitat for Humanity homes and a renovated community resource center.

“This is not the fitness center that we are often known for,” said Dan Pyle, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Birmingham.

The project aims to address health disparities and disparities in early learning, affordable housing, pediatric care, mental health and affordable nutrition, Pyle said.

“How do we solve all these problems?” – said Pyle. “We understand that we cannot do all this on our own. We have brought together like-minded partners to tackle inequalities that no one can tackle on their own.”

Christ Health Center will operate the attached pediatric clinic, and Impact Family Counseling will operate the family counseling center. The well-lit pedestrian area will feature a community garden and play areas.

“Habitat will finance its own housing development,” Pyle said. “We create ready-to-build sites for Habitat and they will come and build the houses. The Christ Health Center will be responsible for the infrastructure of the building that we are going to build; same with “The Impact of Marriage Counseling.” If we all collaborate together, the total would be over $15 million.”

This week, the city of Birmingham approved $1 million to renovate the Northeast YMCA and plan for a new campus at 628 Red Lane Road.

“This is a monumental event that will change the lives of the residents of East Birmingham and surrounding communities,” said Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin. “This new, innovative campus concept will become a national model for YMCAs across the country.”

Jefferson County contributed $1.9 million to the project, and about $9.5 million in private donations was raised to fund the project, Pyle said.

Although the homes have not yet been built, construction is underway on streets, curbs and sidewalks in the area that will be adjacent to the renovated YMCA.

“We are also renovating the interior of the building to modernize and enhance all of our youth development programs, our pre-K1 classrooms, all of our youth and teen outreach, installing a commercial kitchen to support our food distribution and in-home nutrition. Wheels Partnership with United Way.”

The new Northeast Y should be open and operational by mid-spring 2025, Pyle said. It won’t be like other YMCAs that have weight rooms, running tracks and weightlifting equipment.

The project includes a major renovation of the current 18,000-square-foot facility, and a new 8,000-square-foot building will include a health clinic, counseling center and resource center.

“This is a completely community center providing services to people,” he said. “There will be a small exercise area for seniors to keep them active and mobile and prevent falls.”

YMCA partners include Habitat for Humanity, Christ Health Center, Impact Family Counseling, United Way of Central Alabama/Meals on Wheels, as well as Alabama Kindergarten First Grade and the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama.