YMCA starts building lot

BURBANK — Burbank Community YMCA members tired of circling the block or relying on nearby shopping center structures for parking can breathe a sigh of relief, as the organization is set to break ground on a 41-space lot across the street from its child care center on San Jose Avenue.

The nonprofit YMCA secured a $4.8-million private loan from First Private Bank and Trust last month after the City Council in September postponed voting on two requests for financial assistance. The funds will be used to pay off the recent purchase of two properties on San Jose Avenue and the necessary work to build the additional parking facilities.

The load also consolidates the YMCA’s existing mortgage and covers the estimated costs of capital improvements to the main facility, said Yvette Herrera, president of the organization’s board of directors.

The nonprofit purchased the property at 353 San Jose Ave. on a loan in August and expects to complete construction of the parking lot in May.

“As our members know, parking has been a huge issue for years,” said YMCA Chief Executive JC Holt Jr. “This solves the issue for us and for our members.”

The improvements couldn’t come soon enough for some members, who said finding a parking spot can be an exercise in and of itself.

Patricia Sanmarti often leaves her North Hollywood home one hour before the start of her 10 a.m. aerobics class at the YMCA.

The retired banker said she typically waits five to 10 minutes for a space, and often more.

“If I can’t find parking, I go to the market or library,” said Sanmarti, 51.

YMCA officials said the new structure will help ease congestion during peak periods as well as help eliminate long drop-off lines that form weekday mornings and Saturdays in front of the child care center.

The YMCA brought its parking issue before the City Council in July, requesting funds to buy the property at 353 San Jose Ave., which went back on the market after the council rebuffed a developer’s proposal to build mixed-use developments.

Of the two proposals, YMCA officials favored one that would have provided $1.4 million for the purchase of the property, $87,000 in closing costs and $581,000 to cover the demolition and resurfacing of the new lot.