The Haverhill YMCA is going back to the drawing board after the state recently rejected its plan to build a modern fitness and wellness center at Northern Essex Community College’s Haverhill campus. As early as 2023, the YMCA informally proposed a 60,000 square-foot health and fitness center; 10,000 square-foot early learning center; outdoor multi-sport turf fields and other amenities created in collaboration with Northern Essex and Central Catholic High School. Only the YMCA showed interest when the state formally opened bids a year later. Northern Essex Community College would have maintained shared access for its Police Academy and athletic programs.
Northern Essex President Lane A. Glenn recently told college staff there were too many obstacles in the way. “We worked on a detailed process with the Massachusetts Department of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance that, unfortunately, due to rising costs and the complexities of navigating federal, state and local regulations, led to a decision not to proceed with the sole bidder on the project, the YMCA of the North Shore,” he said in a memorandum.