STEELE CREEK NEWS

Details Announced for Gill Family YMCA

(November 14, 2019) The YMCA of Greater Charlotte has announced plans to build the initial 14,000-square-foot phase of a master-planned facility in the Steele Creek area. Made possible through a generous $3 million gift from Ken Gill, founder and CEO of CPI Security, and his wife, Malinda, Gill Family YMCA will sit on 30 acres of land along Highway 160, south of Sledge Road.

The new, state-of-the-art facility will include a welcome center, group exercise studio(s), cycling studio, wellness center, Y Kids drop-in childcare facility, family fitness lawn, sports fields, locker rooms, and an outdoor aquatic center, which will feature a lap pool, splash park, and wade pool.

“As a resident and business owner who is committed to the positive development of the Steele Creek area, Malinda and I are proud to impact the future of this community in such a meaningful way,” said Ken Gill. “Gill Family YMCA will be a hub of activity, fellowship and healthy living for Steele Creek families and residents.”

Since 2004, Steele Creek YMCA has operated out of a leased storefront space in the Ayrsley Town Center and leverages a variety of sites – including churches and schools - throughout the Steele Creek community for youth programming.

“We have been a fixture in Steele Creek for the past 15 years,” said Todd Tibbits, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Charlotte. “We are deeply grateful for Ken and Malinda Gill’s generous commitment that allows the Y to serve more residents and families, extend programming opportunities and deepen our impact.”

The Y will continue to serve the community at the Steele Creek Y storefront facility at Ayrsley Town Center through the duration of construction of the Gill Family YMCA. Plans for the future of the Y’s current location will be determined at a later date.

“Gill Family YMCA will create a centralized location for our Y to expand our reach throughout the Steele Creek community,” said Andi Kennington, executive director of the Steele Creek YMCA. “Their gift helps us launch a new chapter of community partnership and impact.”

Before the YMCA of Greater Charlotte breaks ground on the project, 100 percent of the approximately $9 million fundraising goal needs to be pledged. To date, over $3.5 million has been raised, including the $3 million gift from Ken and Malinda Gill. Malinda’s involvement with the Steele Creek YMCA includes serving as a board member.

Pulte Group submitted a rezoning petition in August for a 271.6-acre property along Sledge Road that includes the new YMCA site. The new YMCA will be comparable to the 14,000 square foot facility at Ballantyne. The 30-acre YMCA site is comparable in size to that of the Harris YMCA on Quail Hollow Road at Sharon Road. It includes room for future expansion and plenty of open space.

The new YMCA is part of a larger development planned along the south side of Sledge Road between Steele Creek Road and Shopton Road West. The petitioner plans to build a residential community with up to 697 dwelling units, which is only 6 units more than would be allowed by right under current R-3 zoning. The single family for-sale units will have a mixture of lot sizes. Detached housing is planned but the site plan allows up to 200 townhomes. The requested UR-2(CD) zoning will allow for flexibility in lot sizes.

The development will include up to 120 units in a Continuing Care Retirement Community (a nursing home made up of both independent and dependent living facilities) on a five-acre site on Sledge Road.

The petitioner is requesting MX-3 zoning for the residential area and YMCA and UR-2(CD) zoning for the continuing care units. See Petition 2019-128.

The Steele Creek YMCA sponsors STEM programs at Olympic High School and provides a STEM Learning Center, After School Programs, Summer Camp, Y Without Walls, and other programs at Central Steele Creek Presbyterian Church, Christ the King Church, and other locations throughout Steele Creek. They plan to continue these programs after the new YMCA is built.

The petitioner had planned to create an entrance on Steele Creek Road across from Hunting Meadow Lane and install a traffic signal, but this is inconsistent with North Carolina Department of Transportation plans for widening Steele Creek Road and will be reevaluated. See U-5766 Steele Creek Road Improvements.

The developers are working with the Steele Creek Residents Association and the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department to ensure that property along a creek that connects to the future Walker Branch Greenway is reserved for a future greenway, possibly extending to the McDowell Nature Preserve,

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