Historic Hunton YMCA breaks ground on $18.3M Norfolk home
The 151-year-old Hunton YMCA broke ground Oct. 7 on a 22,700 sq ft first phase at Tidewater Drive and Brambleton Avenue, returning to its neighborhood after three years in temporary space.
The William A. Hunton YMCA broke ground Oct. 7 on its new permanent home at Tidewater Drive and Brambleton Avenue in Norfolk. The branch has operated from temporary space for three years, since it sold its old building in the Tidewater Gardens community to the city in 2023 as part of the St. Paul's area redevelopment.
The first phase is a 22,700 sq ft building with an early childhood education center, administrative offices, outdoor classrooms and a playground, plus before- and after-school programs. It is designed to serve 300 children a day, almost twice the branch's former capacity. Later phases would add a gym and a swimming pool.
The first phase carries an $18.3 million fundraising goal. The Hunton Y's campaign has raised more than $16 million so far, and the City of Norfolk has contributed more than $6 million, according to WHRO.
The site, 1045 E. Brambleton Ave., is the former Tidewater Gardens Elementary School property. City leaders transferred the land to the YMCA at a deed signing in April.
W.M. Jordan Company will build the project. Company president Ron Lauster said site plan approval could come any day and crews can mobilize within 30 days after that. Construction is expected to take about 14 months, with occupancy in early 2028. That is later than the 2027 opening targeted when the land deal was announced in April.
Founded in 1875 to serve Black residents excluded from other YMCAs, the Hunton Y is the nation's oldest independent YMCA in continuous operation.
The building returns a long-standing community anchor to the redeveloped St. Paul's area, where Norfolk has been replacing the Tidewater Gardens public housing community, and nearly doubles the branch's daily capacity for children.
What's next
- Pending City site plan approval; crews mobilize within 30 days after
- Early 2028 Expected occupancy of the first phase