Council approves demolition of Westside (old YMCA) after public objections over study and valuation

The Conroe City Council voted to award a bid to remove the Westside Recreation Center — the old YMCA in the floodway — after parks staff reported the building has suffered fires, vandalism, cut utilities and extensive mold and is functionally obsolete.

Public commenters, including longtime community members, urged the council to commission an independent valuation, a licensed structural‑engineering assessment, a FEMA compliance review and a citizen oversight process before authorizing demolition. "This building still has life to it," one speaker said, asking for adaptive‑reuse studies and a citizen review of prior administrative actions that reduced the site's value.

Parks Director Nancy McCheska told council staff had completed environmental reviews, obtained required FEMA permits and conducted the formal bid process; she said the building currently meets the city’s definition of "obsolete" and that the site is a likely location for a future sewer plant. McCheska noted prior investments in the building were not conducted under the permits FEMA requires for floodway work and that bringing the structure into compliance would require substantial investment, likely beyond what FEMA rules permit for improvements in a floodway without elevation or removal.

Councilmembers debated whether staff should have performed a full reuse feasibility study before moving to demolition and questioned past administrative decisions (for example, the city’s earlier removal of the pool). One councilmember cast a recorded nay; the motion carried and the demolition bid was authorized to proceed.

The council directed staff to salvage and preserve key historical items where feasible (members suggested preserving existing plaques) and to comply with all FEMA and procurement rules for floodway work. Parks staff said the selected low bidder will perform demolition under environmental and FEMA requirements and that the demolition funds will come from the parks budget.

Next steps: staff will proceed with the awarded demolition contract under FEMA and environmental permit conditions and will coordinate salvage of historic plaques and documentation requested by council.