$22 Million Des Plaines Athletic Center Renovation

A long-vacant former YMCA in Des Plaines could soon undergo a $22 million transformation into a privately operated community athletic center featuring basketball and pickleball courts, fitness facilities, a restaurant, bar and retail space.

The Des Plaines City Council is expected to approve an economic incentive and development agreement for redevelopment of the former Lattof YMCA at 300 E. Northwest Highway.

The city purchased the roughly four-acre property earlier this year for approximately $1.9 million.

The Daily Herald reports that the proposed agreement would be between the City of Des Plaines, SG Des Plaines and Spectate Group. SG Des Plaines and Spectate Group are subsidiaries of the Mount Prospect-based Nicholas Family of Companies, which operates sports facilities including the Nicholas Sportsplex in Mount Prospect and Rosemont Ice Arena.

If the agreement moves forward as expected, construction could begin this fall and take approximately one year to complete.

90,000-Square-Foot Athletic Facility Planned

The redevelopment calls for renovating the existing building into an approximately 90,000-square-foot community athletic facility.

Plans include a variety of sports, fitness and entertainment amenities, including:

• Basketball courts
• Pickleball courts
• Fitness and exercise areas
• Weightlifting equipment
• Walking track
• Bar
• Restaurant
• Retail store

The combination of athletic, restaurant and commercial uses will require substantial interior renovation and specialized construction within the existing building.

Rather than demolishing the former YMCA and starting over, the project would reuse the existing structure and adapt it for a new generation of recreational and commercial uses.

Major Renovation of Former Lattof YMCA

The building originally opened in 1961 as the Northwest Suburban YMCA.

It was renamed the Lattof YMCA in 1980 in honor of suburban automobile dealer and philanthropist Nicholas M. Lattof.

The YMCA permanently closed in 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The property has remained unused and is now in significant disrepair.

Bringing the building back into service could require extensive rehabilitation of both its interior spaces and building systems.

The project could involve selective demolition, structural repairs, new mechanical and electrical systems, plumbing upgrades, fire protection improvements and extensive interior reconstruction.

The athletic spaces will also require specialized flooring, equipment and finishes designed for high levels of recreational use.

Restaurant, Bar and Retail Construction Included

The redevelopment extends beyond athletic facilities.

A restaurant, bar and store are planned as part of the 90,000-square-foot complex, adding commercial construction and hospitality components to the project.

Restaurant and bar construction could involve new commercial kitchen equipment, plumbing, electrical systems, HVAC and kitchen ventilation, fire suppression, refrigeration, millwork and specialty finishes.

The retail space will require its own interior build-out and could include new lighting, flooring, fixtures, signage and other commercial improvements.

Combining these uses with the sports facilities will make the former YMCA renovation a substantial mixed-use adaptive reuse project.

Des Plaines Could Finance $19.8 Million

Under the proposed economic incentive and development agreement, Des Plaines would finance 90 percent of the $22 million project.

The city would lend the Nicholas Family of Companies up to $19.8 million.

The loan would be repaid over 20 years and is expected to generate more than $5 million in interest payments for the city.

The companies would contribute the remaining $2.2 million toward the project.

Once construction is complete, the city would transfer ownership of the property to SG Des Plaines. Spectate Group would operate the athletic center.

City officials also plan to support the developers' future application for a property assessment reduction that could lower the site's property tax bill for 12 years.

Construction Could Begin This Fall

The development could move relatively quickly following approval of the agreement.

Construction is expected to begin as early as this fall and could be completed approximately one year later.

The proposed schedule would require a significant amount of renovation work within a relatively concentrated construction period.

Because the existing building has been closed for several years and is described as being in disrepair, assessment and rehabilitation of existing structural and building systems could be an important early component of the work.

Construction Trades Involved

The renovation of the former YMCA into a modern athletic, dining and retail complex could create opportunities for a wide variety of contractors, subcontractors and suppliers.

Potential trades include:

• Selective demolition contractors
• Structural repair contractors
• Concrete contractors
• Masonry contractors
• Roofing contractors
• Waterproofing contractors
• Building envelope contractors
• Window and glazing contractors
• Carpentry contractors
• Drywall and insulation contractors
• Mechanical contractors
• HVAC contractors
• Plumbing contractors
• Electrical contractors
• Fire protection contractors
• Commercial kitchen contractors
• Kitchen ventilation and exhaust contractors
• Refrigeration contractors
• Restaurant equipment suppliers
• Athletic flooring contractors
• Basketball court contractors
• Pickleball court contractors
• Fitness equipment suppliers and installers
• Specialty sports equipment contractors
• Walking track contractors
• Flooring and tile contractors
• Painting and wall-covering contractors
• Architectural millwork contractors
• Bar and restaurant interior contractors
• Retail fit-out contractors
• Lighting contractors and suppliers
• Signage contractors
• Security and access-control contractors
• Parking lot and sitework contractors
• Landscaping contractors

The condition of the existing structure could also create opportunities for contractors specializing in building rehabilitation and replacement of aging systems.

Public-Private Partnership Moves Project Forward

The former Lattof YMCA redevelopment is the latest public-private development partnership pursued by Des Plaines.

Other partnerships have supported the renovation of the Des Plaines Theatre and the ongoing conversion of a former Lee Street bank building into a restaurant called The Dime.

For contractors and suppliers, the proposed athletic center represents a sizable adaptive reuse opportunity that could move into construction as soon as this fall.

With approximately 90,000 square feet of space to renovate, the $22 million project will combine athletic construction with restaurant, bar, retail and general building rehabilitation work.

When the development agreement receives final approval, the long-vacant YMCA could be back under construction within months, with the new athletic facility targeted for completion approximately one year after work begins.