GREENFIELD — After 30 years of eyeing the property next door, Franklin County’s YMCA has been granted the opportunity to expand with the acquisition of the long-vacant Zion Korean Church.

“We could not be more excited,” said Grady Vigneau, CEO of the local YMCA. “Everything under the sun has come to my mind about what we can do with this.”

Buying the property at 463 Main St., which was originally built as the Coldbrook Springs Baptist Church in Barre in the 1840s and was later moved to Greenfield in the 1930s, was made possible by a gift from an anonymous donor, Vigneau said. The Zion Korean Church bought and moved to the former North Amherst Congregational Church and its parish center in 2012.

“We are thrilled that the donor believes in the mission and the vision of the Y and stepped forward to make this purchase happen,” said Director of Development Jodi Howe. “We are beyond excited for all the possibilities and cannot wait to see how this will enhance our ability to serve the Franklin County community.”

Vigneau said buying the former church gives the YMCA a “tremendous opportunity” to explore how to meet the needs identified last year in the organization’s five-year strategic plan. Some of those needs include coping with an aging facility, inadequate pool size and desire for more teen programming, among others.

“The Y’s membership has grown 30% in the last year, and while that is awesome, we really need more space,” he said.

Vigneau said visitation to the YMCA continues to grow year after year, particularly since the pandemic, with 101,000 visitors in 2021, 137,000 in 2022 and an anticipated 187,000 to 195,000 visitors by the end of the current calendar year.

“We’re bursting at the seams,” he said.

The plans for the former church, however, are still up in the air, as leaders explore different uses for the space, and whether demolition or rehabilitation is the best path to take. Vigneau said he plans to include input from the community. This will involve expanding the survey that was used to collect feedback from members in 2022 to complete the five-year strategic plan. An architectural study will also be considered, which he anticipates could take up to a year. The YMCA is working with Beverly-based architecture and design firm SV Design, Siemasko + Verbridge for the current YMCA building, which may expand its purview to the neighboring building..

“I want what’s best for the community,” Vigneau said.

As for funding, Vigneau said he is exploring MassDevelopment as a possible avenue, as well as low-interest loans.

The former church, which largely sits vacant save for a few pieces of furniture and kitchen appliances, has only two bathrooms — one of the challenges Vigneau identified for the space.

“It’s a really cool building,” he said, standing in a room that was once lined with pews. “But it’s been ignored for decades.”

Vigneau emphasized that the future of the building will be a community endeavor, with the goal of ensuring the organization’s future sustainability. With the property located on Main Street, he added that he’s excited for the YMCA to be part of the city’s downtown revitalization efforts.

“This is the only opportunity we have on Main Street to grow,” Vigneau said. “We want to get it right.”

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.

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