While so many other buildings around Bradford have been torn down of late, the YWCA Bradford building has steadily been going up.
“The construction of our building is progressing well and is on track to be completed in the spring,” said Vanessa Castano, executive director.
The organization broke ground on the 13,000-square-foot building in early April at 72 Congress St., the former site of Second Ward School.
YWCA Bradford’s current location, 24 W. Corydon St., would have been cost-prohibitive to renovate and was poorly configured for programs, with little room for expansion, officials said.
The new building will house the YWCA’s programs and services, including Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities, Victims’ Resource Center, and Housing and Employment Services programs. The facility will feature various client meeting spaces, including spaces for family meeting rooms, a “huddle” counseling room, “quiet” rooms and counseling rooms, and conference/training rooms.
“Without jinxing the project, construction has been fairly smooth so far, and we haven’t seen too many issues with supply and demand,” Castano said. “This gives us hope that there will not be snags to completion as we near the finish line.”
Ongoing internal construction includes I.T., security and drywall work. The project significantly heightens safety, security and confidentiality for people seeking YWCA services and the staff who provide them, with fully secure entrances and meeting rooms, limited interaction between participants, and limited access to internal infrastructure.
In 2016, YWCA Bradford purchased the former Second Ward Elementary School from the Downtown Bradford Revitalization Corp. with support from the Neighborhood Partnership Project. The non-profit organization had plans to renovate and eventually occupy the school.
In 2019, Bradford City Zoning granted variances for the project and demolition of the former school was approved. The YWCA had hoped to have the school demolished and a new building constructed by 2021, but various factors including COVID interfered.
Castano said, “Our architects at Larson Karle, Cummins Construction and all the subcontractors have been great to work with, and we’re so thankful to all the donors, as well as the commonwealth and the USDA for committing the funds to make this project happen.
“We cannot wait to celebrate the finished project with the community in just a few short months.”
