Two local YMCA facilities are the latest casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago announced Friday that it is permanently closing the Leaning Tower YMCA in Niles and the Lattof YMCA in Des Plaines.
The closures are effective June 1, though the facilities have been closed for programming since March 16, the organization said. The Kroehler Family YMCA in Naperville will also permanently close, the YMCA said.
The Leaning Tower itself will not be impacted by the closure, as the village of Niles purchased it from the YMCA in 2015 after leasing it for many years. The village had been discussing how to make the area, anchored by the historic tower, a destination for arts and entertainment.
The residential complex at the Leaning Tower YMCA will also be unaffected by the closure, the YMCA said.
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“The overwhelming stress that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has put on the global economy has also put an enormous strain on our organization,” said Richard Malone, president and CEO of YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, in a statement. “We’ve reached the point where we are no longer able to sustain these centers during and after the pandemic.”
Separate statements on the Leaning Tower and Lattof YMCA websites said the facilities had been “operating at a loss for many years, mainly due to the rising costs of maintaining an aging building and declining membership and program enrollment.”
“The organization has considered fundraising for the (facilities), but our study has concluded that forecasted funds would not be enough to cover future losses,” the statements said.
The Leaning Tower YMCA complex, located at 6300 W. Touhy Ave., takes its name from the nearby Leaning Tower of Niles, which has undergone renovations in recent years following the village taking over ownership of the historic building. .
The complex is located within an area known as the Touhy Triangle, which the village has identified as prime for redevelopment with residential buildings, retail shops and restaurants.
Niles Mayor Andrew Przybylo said the Touhy Triangle plan envisioned a brand new YMCA facility, built by the organization, and consisting of a cultural center and park.
With the closure of the facility, that vision is now uncertain.
“I’m hoping they can find another location because the YMCA was an institution,” Przybylo said. “I think their brand is excellent and if they can find another facility, I would hope they could remain, if not in Niles, then certainly the area.”
Twitter: @Jen_Tribune