Mid-City Baton Rouge welcomes new YMCA, apartments

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A new YMCA facility opened on Monday in Baton Rouge, and city leaders hope it brings more people to the Mid-City area.

The slogan, “It’s fun to stay at the YMCA,” can now become a reality with this state-of-the-art facility that includes new modern apartments.

It’s a $30 million project that took three years to complete. City leaders and employees are celebrating the new achievement.

Carolyn Schwartzhoff works out at the “Y” and said she’s excited to try the new pool and group exercise studio.

“The thing that excited me most is the second-floor indoor track,” she mentioned.

She also has her eye on the new apartments near South Foster and Government.

“The apartments are beautiful, very nice, and I’m thinking, ‘how can I move in?'” Schwartzhoff said.

Christian Engle with Capital Area Development said having apartments on YMCA properties is a long-standing tradition.

“These apartments are considered affordable housing,” said Engle. “They’re geared toward people who are about an 80 percent median income here in the Baton Rouge area: teachers, policemen, firemen, or people new in their careers. This is where the original A.C. Lewis YMCA was. We did not want to walk away from history.”

Engle said the old A.C. Lewis YMCA was completely torn down to make way for this modern new facility.

The new YMCA also features a two-story gym and fitness center, several pools, a whirlpool, a steam room, and much more. The new facility is open daily on South Foster Drive.

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