By Josh Grossburg

March 29, 1999 -- The Santa Monica Family YMCA is about to undergo a long-awaited, $8.4 million improvement project that boosters say will
modernize the aging facility and prepare the organization to better serve its clients well into the next century.

Community leaders gathered on Monday, March 29 for a groundbreaking ceremony at the Y facility on 6th Street to herald the project.

From left; Police Chief James T. Butts, Jr., School Superintendent Neil Schmidt, Mayor Pam O'Connor and architect Herb Katz break ground.

"It is the people behind the scenes who toil that made this possible today," said Mayor Pam O'Connor.

Although some classes and equipment are being moved to accommodate the construction project, part of the facility - including the basketball courts, child-care center and free-weight room - will be closed for 15 to 18 months. Most of the non-profit organization's 7,000 members plan to put up with the loss of services and stay with the facility until it reopens sometime next year, officials said.

"Amazingly, it has not affected our membership that much," said
membership director Shifra Raz. "Members have been very loyal and understanding."

But about 30 regulars say the inconvenience is too much and plan to take their business elsewhere.

"It's something of a drag," said 29-year-old massage therapist Matt Katics, who used the free-weight room a few times a week. "I'll probably cancel my membership."

But he said he might return when the project is completed.
"I really like the Y," he said "This is more of a family place with
older and younger people. I like that."

Kelly Shea of Santa Monica was also unhappy about losing some
facilities.

"I use the weight room a lot and I play basketball," she said. "I'll
find another gym."

But she too will probably come back when the facility reopens.
"I understand you have to remodel," she said. "And working out here is very nice."

At least one gym in Santa Monica - Easton's on the Third Street
Promenade - is offering a discount on its monthly fees for dissatisfied Y members. So far, a few have signed up for the $39-a-month offer, a $10 drop in its normal fee.

The cost of signing up for the YMCA is harder to gauge. While an adult membership is $42 a month, the Y is loathe to turn people away, especially children, and offers a sliding pay scale for those who can't afford the regular fee.

"What's nice about this YMCA is you see pregnant mothers, babies, teenagers, old people, handicapped," said Raz. "It's open to everyone. We don't refuse membership to anybody."

Those who cancel membership during construction will be welcomed back when they return, said associate general director Tara Pomposini.

"Anyone can stop their membership at any time," she said. We will waive our joining fee when they return. But we hope they find alternate activities during construction."

And, she said, members can use other Y facilities in the area, including one in West Los Angeles.

While they regret having to temporarily discontinue some of their
services, Y officials say they had little recourse.

"There will be some loss of activities," said Pomposini. "We have no place to put any of the gym programs. We're losing our racquetball and basketball courts, volleyball and we'll have to close the free-weight center and the child-care center. That's a lot unfortunately. But the new facility will place the Y in a better position to serve the community for the next 50 to 80 years."

Given that the latest improvement project has been in the planning for years, Y workers have been able to find other accommo-dations for those who use the Y's child-care center, Pomposini said.

"We have been able to work with parents to get children placed," she said.

When the $8.4 million project is completed, it will offer much more than the aging facility does now. The older portion, which until now housed all the affected programs, has been in use since the 1940s. The tile floors are yellowed and chipped. A maze of stairs and corridors make it easy to get lost.

In its place will be a 3-story facility containing a new state-licensed child-care center with playground, center for older youths, senior center, kitchen, assembly area, double gymnasium, free-weight room, locker area, conference room, performance art studio with stage, a computer room, a lounge and an additional 100 parking spaces.

Although some services will be temporarily discontinued, many
will remain in operation, including the swimming pools, exercise
area and multi-purpose room.

The latest construction project is the culmination of an expansion plan that began about 15 years ago to meet the growing demand for the facility. But even as the fitness areas grow, officials are quick to note that the Y is much more than a gym.

"The Y is not a health club," Pomposini said. "Health is only part of it. We have to build strong individuals in spirit, mind and body. If they are, it will be reflected in the community."

And while other gyms might emphasize strengthening abs, the Y also wants to work on values.

"Values are the backbone of the YMCA," she said. "When we work on kids, we don't just teach swimming, we teach them about self-worth."

The goal is one the Young Men's Christian Association has
been working on for about 150 years, although its mission has
changed since then.

"We're not all young, we're not all men and we're not all Christian," said Pomposini. "But we are an association."