St. David’s Center Expanding; Acquires YWCA Minneapolis
Thursday, March 14th, 2024
St. David’s Center signed a purchase agreement to buy the YWCA Minneapolis facility at 1130 Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. This will bring new life to the shuttered YWCA facility and provide families and children in the area with much-needed therapy and childcare services.
With the new and existing space, St. David’s will be able to serve an additional 1,500 children per year, said Julie Sjordal, St. David’s CEO. Nearly 2,000 children are on the organization’s waiting list for services.
St. David’s Center provides inclusive early childhood education, mental health services, pediatric occupational and speech therapies, disability support services and autism day programs.
As shared by Finance & Commerce in a March 11, 2024 article by Brian Johnson:
Would-be buyers included developers interested in converting the 124,000-square-foot building to housing and those who wanted to keep it as a fitness center, among others, said John McCarthy, a Colliers senior vice president and broker who represented the YWCA in the deal.
In the end, the St. David’s Center proposal rose to the top in part because its mission aligns with the YWCA, and because the new owner will allow the YWCA to maintain a day care at the site, McCarthy said.
“We truly believe it was the best outcome for the YWCA,” McCarthy said in an interview Monday. “We could not have found a better buyer.”
Most of the fitness areas will be converted into classrooms or treatment spaces and St. David’s may keep the pool to start aqua therapy. St. David’s will lease about 20% of the building back to the YWCA to continue to operate its early childhood center.
Pope Design Group has been supporting St. David’s Center with their plans for the renovation of the YWCA. The hope is to begin construction in 2025 and open in early 2026. Stay tuned for more updates on the project.
Check out these links for more information:
KARE 11 – St. David’s Center to purchase Minneapolis YWCA
MSP Business Journal – YWCA Minneapolis selling downtown building to nonprofit St. David’s Center
Twin Cities Business – St. David’s Center to Buy YWCA’s Downtown Building
Star Tribune – YWCA Minneapolis sells downtown fitness facility to Minnetonka nonprofit