Conroe Approves Floodway YMCA Demolition

**Conroe Finally Greenlights Demolition of Flood-Prone Old YMCA Eyesore**

**CONROE, TX – April 1, 2024** – After years of sitting vacant and posing both a public safety hazard and an environmental concern, the dilapidated former YMCA building in Conroe is finally slated for demolition. The Conroe City Council, in a unanimous decision on Thursday, March 28, 2024, awarded an $88,000 contract to TFR Enterprises for the removal of the structure, clearing a long-standing problematic spot in the city.

The two-story building, located at the intersection of North Main Street and Semands Avenue, has been a prominent and unwelcome fixture in the community for over a decade. Its precarious position directly within the floodway of the West Fork of the San Jacinto River has long been a primary concern for city officials and local residents.

“This is a major step forward for the City of Conroe and for the revitalization of our downtown area,” stated Mayor Jody Czajkoski following the council’s vote. “This building has been a public hazard, an eyesore, and a magnet for illicit activities for far too long. Its demolition is not just about clearing a structure; it’s about enhancing public safety and improving the quality of life for our citizens.”

The property’s vulnerability to flooding was starkly evident during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, when the entire structure was completely submerged, transforming it into a dangerous obstacle in the rising floodwaters. Beyond the environmental risks, the vacant building has unfortunately become a known hotspot for vandalism and other illegal activities, prompting frequent calls to law enforcement and concerns from nearby residents and businesses.

The City of Conroe acquired the property in 2017 for $1.8 million, initially with aspirations of converting it into a new administrative complex. However, extensive engineering and flood studies quickly revealed the impracticality and high cost of rehabilitating a building so deeply entrenched in a floodway. Those plans were subsequently abandoned, shifting the focus toward demolition and site management.

Before the city’s purchase, the Conroe YMCA had vacated the North Main location in 2012, moving to a modern, $10 million facility on Ed Kharbat Drive, reflecting a city trend towards newer, more accessible recreational hubs. Since then, the old building has steadily deteriorated, becoming a symbol of deferred action for many in the community.

The demolition project, funded through the city’s general fund, will now proceed swiftly. Once TFR Enterprises receives the official notice to proceed, the company has a 60-day window to complete the demolition work. This timeline suggests that the structure, which has stood as a challenging landmark for decades, will be completely removed by early summer.

While no immediate plans for new construction have been announced for the site, its location in the floodway strongly indicates that it will likely remain open space, possibly integrated into future flood mitigation efforts or designated as green space. The clearing of the old YMCA building represents a tangible commitment from Conroe leadership to address long-standing community challenges and improve the urban landscape.