Crews started demolition of the former Hannan Memorial YMCA on East Jefferson earlier this week. The five-story brick building had been vacant for two decades, with parts of the roof missing.
The structure sits along the busy street, just past East Village and near the former Waterworks Park. Demolition is expected to take up to a couple months. The city is using nearly $2 million in American Rescue Plan funds for the demolition.
"The Hannan Memorial YMCA has been a part of Detroit's history for nearly a century, and we understand the emotional connection that residents have with this landmark," said LaJuan Counts, director of the Detroit Construction & Demolition Department. "However, the current state of the building demands decisive action to ensure the safety of our community."
The building dates back to 1928. It served as a YMCA for over 50 years. In the 1970's it became a U.S. Job Corps Center. The Women's Justice Center acquired the property in 2005, but didn't have the funding to renovate the building. The city took back the property in 2022.
