PEORIA — Unable to pay the principal on a $3.1 million mortgage loan, the YWCA Peoria is closing its Lakeview facility that opened in the 1960s, eliminating its child care program, therapeutic pool/turtle pool services, Betty Friedan Family Child Care Learning Center, fitness classes and all other services at the facility.

The Lakeview facility, 1013 W. Lake Ave., Peoria, that serves as the YWCA Peoria headquarters will close September 30.
When the facility closes, YWCA Peoria will be forced to lay off 13 full-time employees and 8-10 part-time employees. YWCA Peoria administrative staff will be required to relocate by November 1.
Currently, around 50 families are enrolled in the day care program and an estimated 1,100 people have memberships to the therapeutic pool/turtle pool.
The RiverPlex Recreation and Wellness Center, 600 NE. Water St., Peoria, is honoring YWCA Peoria pool and fitness memberships, and parents with children in the YWCA Peoria day care program were given a list of alternative options.
“People can find other places to swim,” said YWCA CEO Sandy Markert. “Obviously there are other day care centers and fitness facilities.”
YWCA Peoria will continue to offer homeless services at the Peoria Community Connections Day Center for the Homeless, 826 SW. Adams St., Peoria, emergency shelter programs at Dream Shelter Peoria, 714 Hamilton Blvd., Peoria, and provide transitional and/or supportive housing programs at the Glen-Perry housing project, Glen Mor housing project and Woodbine Apartments.
“We feel we must stay with our mission, which is to serve the homeless, and we are the largest provider to the homeless in the city of Peoria and in this area,” said Markert. “The YWCA offers emergency overnight shelter, transitional housing, and services for the homeless at other facilities in the community and will continue those programs as well as the Leader Luncheon awards program, which recognizes women in leadership.”
Heartland Bank, YWCA Peoria’s mortgage holder, will take possession of the facility and its approximate $3.1 million mortgage, rather than foreclose on the facility.
“We thank Heartland Bank for its efforts to assist us through this transition period,” said Markert in a letter published on the organization’s website www.ywcapeoria.com. “The YWCA is particularly grateful that all of its obligations to the bank will be fully resolved and settled by transfer of the facility to the bank.”
Heartland Bank wants to sell the Lakeview facility. However, Peoria Park District owns the land and, under a long-term lease agreement, will eventually own the building.
According to Peoria Park District President Tim Cassidy, the bank can try to sell the remaining 22 years on the long-term lease agreement, but the park district has the right to approve the building’s usage.
“Of course we don’t want a vacant building,” said Cassidy.
According to Tim Howard, the attorney representing Heartland Bank, the bank has already received several inquiries about the property.
The YWCA is the oldest and largest multicultural women’s organization in the world. Across the globe, the YWCA has more than 25 million members in 122 countries, including 2 million members in 300 local associations in the United States.