GRANITE CITY, IL – Rosemann & Associates, P.C. is pleased to partner with the City of Granite City, Rise Community Development and Altman Charter Company on the restoration of the former historic Granite City YMCA into Edison Avenue Lofts, an Arts Hub and Affordable Housing development.
The original gothic revival structure, located at 2001 Edison Avenue, was built during 1924-1926 for Granite City’s branch of the YMCA. It served as a hub of community activity until 2004. Multiple generations of people grew up attending classes, sporting events and social events at the Y. The building was remodeled and changed over the years, but the YMCA’s mission was embodied here “empowering young people…to become healthier…connected and secure.”
The transformation of the historic YMCA building will enable it to continue to fill many of these same functions within the community by providing housing and security to its residents, enhancing the arts and community through artists-in-residence and creative studio space, and will once again fill the center of Granite City with the vibrancy of occupation and the creative arts.
The City embraces the Y’s restoration as part of its extensive economic development action plan to revitalize downtown. The building’s convenient location to restaurants, coffee shops, and movie theater encourage its residents to be an active part of Granite City life.
A new blade sign for the building, in the spirit of the original YMCA corner blade sign, will highlight its new life and purpose as well as hark back to the Y’s heyday.